China defends export policies against WTO complaint

Published: 23 Jun 2009 18:06:08 PST

BEIJING, June 24 - China defended itself against charges from the U.S. and Europe that its restrictions on raw materials exports violated international trade rules, saying those restrictions were in keeping with WTO regulations.

The European Union and the United States said on Tuesday that they are taking action against China at the World Trade Organization over export restrictions on some industrial raw materials used in steel, cars, microchips, planes and other products.

In the first official Chinese response to the complaint, the country's Ministry of Commerce said in a faxed statement: "The main objective of China's relevant export policies is to protect the environment and natural resources. China believes the policies in question are in keeping with WTO rules."

The Ministry also said it would "appropriately handle" the request from Washington and Brussels for consultations on the case.