WTO Ruling against China Should Ease Rare Earth Access, EU Says

July 5 (Bloomberg) -- The World Trade Organization’s ruling against Chinese export duties on raw materials should push the government in Beijing to lift restrictions on rare Earth metal supplies, the European Union said

“I expect that China will now bring its export regime in line with international rules,” EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said today in a statement. “In the light of this result, China should ensure free and fair access to rare earth supplies.”

China, supplier of 95 percent of global rare earths, has said its export curbs on the metals helps protect the environment and are in line with its WTO commitments.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rebecca Christie in Brussels at rchristie4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jonathan Tirone at jtirone@bloomberg.net