China defends export restrictions

China has defended its export curbs on some raw materials used to make steel, aluminium and chemical products.

On Wednesday, the US, with the EU and Mexico, said they had asked the World Trade Organization to set up a dispute settlement panel on the matter.

They say China's export policy drives up world prices for the materials.

But China's Ministry of Commerce told AFP the aim of the "measures on some raw materials is to protect the environment and our limited resources".

Protectionism claims

The US says the materials at the heart of the dispute are bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon metal, silicon carbide, yellow phosphorus and zinc.

The raw materials case has an impact on billions of dollars of global trade, the US says.

"Working together with the European Union and Mexico, we tried to resolve this issue through consultations, but did not succeed," said Debbie Mesloh, a spokeswoman for the office of the United States Trade Representative.

There are a number of simmering trade disputes between the two countries covering several areas, with counter-claims of protectionism and a large US trade deficit with China.

The US wants to see Chinese restrictions lessened on US agriculture, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and business services, and improved protection of intellectual property rights and co-operation on clean energy technology.

And in September the US imposed punitive duties of up to 35% on imports of Chinese-made tyres.

China responded with an "anti-dumping" probe into US car parts and chicken meat imports.

Recently China also announced it would investigate suspicions that the three big US carmakers were getting government subsidies, or selling their products in China at less than the cost of production.

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