China Says it Will Not Use Rare Earths as Bargaining Chip
On October 28, 2010, a Chinese official said that the country would not use rare earths as a bargaining chip.
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China as the supplier of more than 90% of the world's rare earths, must coordinate multiple factors related to rare earths production and exports, including economic development, resource conservation and environmental protection, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesman Zhu Hongren said at a press conference. Zhu's statements echoed other Chinese officials, who have repeatedly defended China's rare earths policies in response to complaints from global rare earths consumers.
Zhu said China's rare earth reserves account for 55.7% of the world total. He adds that China has taken some measures to restrict the exploitation, production and export of rare earths, to help address problems in the rare earths industry like waste and pollution, which he says are in line with the rules of the World Trade Organization.