China violated global trade rules by imposing export restrictions on rare earths, key inputs in a range of high-tech products, the World Trade Organization ruled March 26. A WTO dispute panel backed a complaint filed by the U.S., the European Union and Japan that the Chinese restrictions, which take the form of export quotas, export duties and other measures, ran counter to commitments China made when it joined the WTO in 2001. Attorneys with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative described the ruling as a major win for the complainants, noting that none of the legal claims against the Chinese measures were rejected by the panel.
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