Department of Commerce responds to WTO preliminary results about China limitation of exports of raw
2011-02-24 18:42:06 【Print】
In light of recent news that U.S., Europe and Mexico charge China for restrictions on exports of raw materials, an official from Ministry of Commerce said that the China will not comment on the report as the report is only distributed to the parties in question and the current contents of the report still remains confidential. China will make proper follow-up in accordance with relevant procedural requirements.
On June 23, 2009, the United States and the European Union formally put forward the dispute to the WTO, saying China limits the export of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon metal, silicon carbide, phosphorus and zinc, and takes the form of export quotas, export taxes and other price and volume control measures, which violated China's commitments in 2001 when made access to the WTO, resulting in the disadvantages of other countries in the world in steel, aluminum and other chemicals production and exports. On August 21, Mexico charged China for the same reason.
Since then, in accordance with the relevant procedures, China, together with the United States, Europe and Mexico discussed on the export of raw materials in July and September, 2009. However, no solution was reached, so the World Trade Organization decided to establish an expert group to investigate the problem on December 21, 2009.
Reuters recently reported that U.S. trade official confirmed that the World Trade Organization (WTO) complaints against Chinese restrictions on exports of industrial raw materials. "We can confirm that WTO has issued temporary report against China on the limitation of industrial raw materials,” said Nefeterius McPherson, spokeswoman of U.S. Trade office.
She also said that the temporary files are confidential at the moment and will be open to the public after sending to members of WTO. The final report is expected to send to member countries in late spring or early summer this year.
Wall Street Journal reported on February 18 that on Friday a preliminary report will be released to confirm that China did not limit the export of raw materials. It added that the final report will be published in April when China can appeal. If unsuccessful, China will have to eliminate export controls or face retaliatory sanctions.
On June 23, 2009, the United States and the European Union formally put forward the dispute to the WTO, saying China limits the export of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon metal, silicon carbide, phosphorus and zinc, and takes the form of export quotas, export taxes and other price and volume control measures, which violated China's commitments in 2001 when made access to the WTO, resulting in the disadvantages of other countries in the world in steel, aluminum and other chemicals production and exports. On August 21, Mexico charged China for the same reason.
Since then, in accordance with the relevant procedures, China, together with the United States, Europe and Mexico discussed on the export of raw materials in July and September, 2009. However, no solution was reached, so the World Trade Organization decided to establish an expert group to investigate the problem on December 21, 2009.
Reuters recently reported that U.S. trade official confirmed that the World Trade Organization (WTO) complaints against Chinese restrictions on exports of industrial raw materials. "We can confirm that WTO has issued temporary report against China on the limitation of industrial raw materials,” said Nefeterius McPherson, spokeswoman of U.S. Trade office.
She also said that the temporary files are confidential at the moment and will be open to the public after sending to members of WTO. The final report is expected to send to member countries in late spring or early summer this year.
Wall Street Journal reported on February 18 that on Friday a preliminary report will be released to confirm that China did not limit the export of raw materials. It added that the final report will be published in April when China can appeal. If unsuccessful, China will have to eliminate export controls or face retaliatory sanctions.
