“The NFTC applauds the WTO Appellate Body’s ruling on Chinese export restrictions of raw materials, as it confirms once again the importance of the WTO in imposing market-based discipline on the world trading system.
“Export restrictions such as those by China cited in this case are a form of protectionism, disrupting global supply chains with the potential to create artificial shortages and raise world prices of downstream goods – ultimately undermining the integrity of the trading system.
“Today’s ruling also has implications beyond its immediate impact because of other raw material export restrictions on rare earth minerals that China maintains. These raw materials are vital in the production of technology-based inputs to an increasing number of everyday products, making this an issue that affects a broad swath of U.S. technology-based companies.”
