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WTO rare earth ruling won't stop China from protecting environment

(People's Daily Online)    08:57, April 23, 2014

I expect the Chinese will continue to ramp-up the media machine. One thing is for sure, things will not remain the same. The Chinese have worked to consolidate the industry in an effort to reduce, roundup and control the mining industry and more importantly increase RE prices. In their eyes the West has enjoyed low prices at the cost of the Chinese environment and this will be their platform from this day forward. Independent of an eventual decision in the appeal against World Trade Organisation's ruling China is demanding the West pay higher RE prices for their sacrifice. The Chinese will impose other revenue generating mechanisms which the World Trade Organization is powerless to fight, of this we can be assured.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/98649/8606748.html




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China plans to appeal the World Trade Organization's ruling that its restriction on rare earth exports violates global rules, said Shen Danyang, spokesman of ministry of Commerce, on April 17. China will spare no efforts in appealing, but whatever the result, China's policy of protecting its resources and its environment is not going to change.

Many countries have long blocked rare earth mineral exploitation for environmental reasons. According to a 2012 white paper, Situation and Policies of China's Rare Earth Industry, China meets more than 90% of the rare earth mineral demand in the global market, even though its reserves account for just 23% of the world’s total. China’s contribution is not properly recognized, and it now finds itself accused of protectionism by the WTO.

Long-term rare earth mineral supplies at a low price

Rare earth minerals are a precious and non-renewable resource, used in a range of crucial technologies such as missile-defense systems. They have been dubbed "industrial gold".

The United State and some European countries have rich resources of rare earth minerals, but they stopped exploitation long ago and now purchase from China. Japan uses only one-third of its imported rare earth minerals for manufacturing, and stockpiles the rest.

In contrast to other countries which neither exploit nor export rare earth minerals, China has been a rich source of rare earth minerals for other countries at low prices. But excessive and large-volume exploitation has caused serious environmental problems such as polluted water and desertification in some parts of China. In recent years, the Chinese government has responded by adopting a series of measures, including export quotas, to ensure ecological protection and managed exploitation.

China's export restrictions have upset a number of overindulged countries that have become accustomed to enjoying low prices over a long period. In March of 2012, the United States, the European Union and Japan teamed up to lodge a complaint to the WTO about China's restrictions on exports of tungsten and molybdenum. In late March of this year, the WTO ruled that China was in breach of WTO rules.

Double standards

China's export restrictions have no impact on global demand. Some western countries have claimed that China's actions are unreasonable because they no longer have access to unlimited resources at low prices, therefore they will have to pay a higher price for their supplies.

China already pays a high price for acting as the world's supplier. But some western countries refuse to acknowledge the sacrifice of China's environment, and the WTO has chosen to ignore those countries which implement strict regulation of exports. Instead, it has ruled against restrictions that aim to protect China's environment. The ruling could force China to abandon effective protective measures and turn to less efficient ways to rehabilitate the environment.

Environmental protection will continue

China will not step down in the face of this unreasonable judgment - we will continue to protect our homeland. Under WTO rules, China can lodge an appeal within 60 days.

"China will put its weight behind an appeal," says Shen Danyang. "And whatever the result, China's policy of protecting its resources and its environment will not change. We will however continue to strengthen management of resources in line with WTO rules, and ensure fair competition."

China's appeal represents a more important principle - that its export restrictions aim to conserve resources and protect the environment not only in China, but throughout the world. If China allows chaotic exploitation to continue, some minerals will run out, and it will be to the detriment of all parties concerned.

The article is edited and translated from «????????????», source: People's Daily Overseas Edition