The World Trade Organization (WTO) is expected to declare that the Chinese government's restrictions on exports of nine raw materials infringe relevant WTO rules. The WTO is due to issue its ruling on the case next month, but has already circulated a confidential version of its report to the parties involved in the dispute,
The United States, the European Union and Mexico launched a dispute at the WTO in 2009 over their complaint that Chinese restrictions on exports of certain raw materials discriminate against foreign manufacturers who use the raw materials and give an unfair advantage to Chinese producers.
The nine raw materials include bauxite, coke, fluorite, magnesium, manganese, ferrosilicon, carbon silicide, phosphorus and zinc.