China export restriction dispute escalates

China has rejected a World Trade Organisation (WTO) bid to have a panel investigate its raw material exports on suspicion of restricting these exports to benefit local industry at the disadvantage of other countries’ manufacturing industries.

The European Union, Mexico and the USA have requested the WTO investigate incidents where China have allegedly limited materials used to produce steel, aluminium and chemicals. This in turn has driven up world prices for inputs, skewing price competition.

China says restrictions are required to protect the environment and conserve exhaustible natural resources.

Earlier consultations between the parties have failed to resolve the dispute, which led to the calls for a panel investigation. Under WTO rules, China cannot reject a second request for the panel, which is likely to proceed at the WTO’s dispute settlement body next meeting on December 21.

Copyright and Exemption Declaration :¢ÙAll articles, pictures and videos that are marked with "China Aluminum Network" on this website are copyright and belong to China Aluminium Network (www.alu.com.cn). When transshipment, any media, website or individual must list the source from "China Aluminium Network (www.alu.com.cn)". We seek legal actions against anyone that disobey this. ¢ÚArticles that marked as copy from others are for transferring more information to readers, do not represent or endorse their opinions or accuracy and reliability. When other media, website or individuals copy from our website, must keep the source. Anyone that changes the articles' sources will hold the responsibilities for copyright and law problems. We also seek legal actions against anyone that disobey this. ¢ÛIf any articles copied by our website concern the copyright and other problems, please contact us within one week.