This morning, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman announced that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed with the United States in its case against China’s export restraints of rare earth metals.
Commented Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM):
“This WTO action is a step in the right direction, and we’re pleased USTR took the initiative in 2012 to launch a rare earth minerals case. China’s export restraints on rare earth minerals have contributed to the loss of American production and jobs, particularly in advanced technology products. These restrictions have also raised important national security concerns about a reliance on foreign suppliers for our military supply chain. These metals are used in crucial missile guidance systems and aircraft components, and it is troubling that we are almost entirely reliant on the Chinese government for access to them.
“The administration must aggressively enforce existing trade laws to ensure China complies with today’s ruling while we work to expand our domestic production and processing of rare earth materials.”
READ: A May 2013 report by Brigadier General John Adams (U.S. Army, retired) found that the health of the America’s defense industrial base is in jeopardy because of an over-reliance on foreign suppliers for critical defense materials.