美歐日要求WTO仲裁中國限制稀土出口案

The United States, European Union, and Japan have asked the World Trade Organization to settle their dispute with China over restricted exports of rare earths
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U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says it is vital that U.S. workers and manufacturers get fair and equal access to such raw materials, which China specifically agreed to do when it joined the WTO.

More than 90 percent of 17 individual rare earths come from China. The United States, EU, and Japan accuse China of restricting such exports to give its own industries an unfair advantage on the world market.

Chinese officials say they must conserve rare earths and metals for environmental reasons.

The WTO ruled against China in an earlier complaint filed by the United States in March. But U.S, European, and Japanese officials are still not satisfied with China's response.美國、歐盟和日本要求世界貿易組織就其與中國圍繞限制稀土出口問題的爭端進行仲裁。

美國貿易代表科克說，以公平與平等的方式獲得稀土對於美國工人和製造商至關重要，中國在加入世貿組織時曾經明確表示同意這樣做。

世界市場90%以上17種個別的稀土來自中國。美國、歐盟和日本指責中國限制稀土出口，以使中國工業在世界市場上獲得不公平的優勢。

中國官員說，中國出於環保方面的考慮，必須對稀土開採有所節制。

美國今年3月曾提出申訴，世貿組織做出了不利於中國的裁決。但美國、歐盟和日本官員仍對中國方面的反應表示不滿意。