China must master ‘WTO language’ to safeguard economic sovereignty

(People's Daily)

16:20, February 03, 2012

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Edited and Translated by People's Daily Online

The WTO appellate body's ruling on the case of the United States, Europe and Mexico accusing China for restricting the export of nine industrial materials is warmly cheered by Western media. The West's intention of forcing China to loosen its control on the export of rare earths is no secret. 

The WTO does not restrict the reasonable protection on non-renewable resources, and it is not the first time that the West has used WTO rules to force China. Experts believe that the current issue faced by China is how China should use “WTO language” to safeguard its economic sovereignty. 

Every country can determine its output and export volumes of resources according to its environmental protection requirements.

To protect environment and conserve natural resources, the Chinese government has strengthened its supervision and management on some resource products, especially high pollution, high energy-consuming and high resource-relying products. Regarding this issue, Liu Qing, deputy secretary-general of the Peaceful Reunification of China Southern California Promotion Alliance, told the People's Daily that it is the WTO's principle to oppose trade protectionism and unfair measures on import, but the WTO does not has the regulation of forcing a country to export or to restrict its export. 

Liu said that resources are also the sovereignty of a country and every country has the right to determine its output and export volumes of resources according to its environmental protection requirements. The United States has extremely abundant oil reserves, but it always restricts its domestic oil exploitation, and one of its high-sounding excuses is protecting its natural environment and resources. 

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