Rare lawsuit is difficult to shake China's environmental protection goals

April 17 , China World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling to the organization identified the Chinese rare earth export management measures violations appeal. Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang said China will make every effort to appeal to work , regardless of the outcome of the appeal , Chinese protection of resources , environmental policy objectives will not change . For a long time , a lot of countries to protect local resources and the environment , adopt strategies for rare earth mining without closure , while China has only about three percent of the world's rare earth supply over 90% of the global market . China 's dedication did not give proper thanks to the harvest , but because of restrictions on the export of initiatives to protect the environment by some countries at the WTO report .

Long-term low-cost supply of rare earth

Rare earth resources is a key material in many major weapons systems , its most notable feature is the substantial increase in the quality and the performance of other products , known industry " gold" . According to reports, the rich United States, Europe and other Western countries of rare earth resources, but had to stop mining in favor of a large purchase from China . Japan 's total imports of rare earth only 1 / 3 for the production , and the rest is used as a strategic reserve.

Mining and other countries cherish different sellers, while China has a large number of low-cost supply of rare earths to the world . Data from the Ministry of Industry show that China 's rare earth reserves account for 36 percent of the global supply of it accounted for more than 95 percent worldwide. Disorderly exploitation of long-term , China's environment has been severely damaged , mined forest becomes generally sandy , barren farmland , water pollution , waste slag piles up the mountain . In recent years , the government began to strengthen management , the introduction of the export quota policy .

China 's rare earth export restrictions foreign policy upset a lot of cheap Chinese rare earth enjoy a good day , causing them strong dissatisfaction.

According to reports, as early as March 13, 2012 , the United States , the European Union and Japan to resort to WTO dispute settlement mechanism on China's export restrictions on rare earths , tungsten and molybdenum , March 26 this year , the WTO panel report preliminary ruled that the export control measures Chinese products involved violations. April 8 , the United States further in relation to rare cases appealed.

Unjust double standard

Ignoring the status quo of China resource depletion, environmental destruction , and some Western countries only consider themselves completely easy to use rare earths , this "convenience " includes not only the number of abundant, there are cheap.

Chinese exports of rare earth was cheaper to just 18 yuan per kilogram , while the international market prices as high as $ 1,000 / kg. After the implementation of the quota system , China 's rare earth export volumes and prices are no longer fit the original buyer's appetite.

In fact, export restrictions did not affect the use of the international market demand for rare earth . Statistics show that in 2011 China's rare earth export quotas only took 52.01 percent in 2012 was only 48.75% , while in 2013 the total export quota of 24,000 tons of rare earth , rare earth export quota for the year's actual physical product was only 22,900 tons , did not complete the quota . Experts pointed out that Western countries against China not because buy rare , mainly Xiangui , like low-cost access to resources . However , more exploitation of rare earth resources , the less certainly sell more expensive.

On the rare earths , the Chinese pay much more affected have wronged . Some Western countries have turned a deaf ear to blindly request. Experts point out that , WTO extremely strict export controls on certain countries turn a blind eye , but then China to protect the environment , not against any country and the introduction of control measures sentenced violations. This award is equivalent to force China to abandon export restrictions means opting for a higher cost , less efficient otherwise protect their own resources and the environment.

Protection of the environment continue to defend

Unfavorable ruling, China did not flinch , choose to continue to defend in order to protect their homes. In accordance with WTO rules , the panel report released in 60 days , the parties may appeal .

Shen Danyang , the current case is in the trial stage of the Appellate Body , the Chinese side will make every effort to appeals . No matter how the outcome of the appeal , China to protect resources , environmental policy objectives will not change , it will continue to comply with the WTO rules on ways to strengthen the management of resource products , maintain fair competition.

The industry believes that the panel report is questionable. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of International Law director Liu Jingdong International Economic analysis , one on export taxes , the Chinese government can take advantage of GATT ( GATT ) Article 20 ( general exception provisions on environmental protection ) to defend . The second is about the Chinese government export restrictions. "Some specific points sweeping , and did not accept China's defense. Not because the Chinese side effect appeared less than expected results in the implementation of the measures , the measures would negate itself . It is also unfair to. " Liu Jingdong said.

China continues to appeal even more important is to limit exports of rare earths , China's environmental protection , but also to protect the world's environment . Meanwhile, the preservation of China's resources , but also for the benefit of the world . Experts point out that if we continue like before , as the uncontrolled exploitation of rare earth , mined some varieties may only enough for 20 years. 20 years later, the depletion of some species of humanity will be a huge damage.


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