Council on Competitiveness Speaks in Support of Recent WTO Ruling on U.S. Challenge of China’s Raw Materials Export Restraints

The Council on Competitiveness applauds the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that finds export restraints imposed by China on several important industrial raw materials to be inconsistent with China’s WTO obligations.

In remarks earlier today, Council President and CEO, Deborah L. Wince-Smith stated: “This ruling will improve U.S. manufacturing competitiveness by removing market-distorting policies that unfairly advantage Chinese producers. We are encouraged by President Obama’s support for American manufacturers and remain hopeful that U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will pursue similar cases against China to liberate trade in rare earths.”

Monday’s WTO findings are congruent with key recommendations put forth in the Council’s recent MAKE: An American Manufacturing Movement report, which call for renewed efforts to “negotiate and enforce enhanced rules on foreign government export restrictions that are currently being used by other countries to manipulate and distort markets.”