The United States has filed complaints to the World Trade Organization over China's restrictions on the export of key industrial raw materials.
These materials include bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, elemental silicon, silicon carbide, yellow phosphorus, and zinc. The U.S. says that export restrictions by China, which are part of the country's industrial policies, creates unfair advantages for Chinese industries and affects the employment of American workers in related industries.
Ron Kirk, a trade delegate from the U.S., said that at this stage, the U.S. only hopes to hold a formal consultation with China and to find a solution to the problem via negotiations.
In addition to the U.S., the European Union has also said that it would file complaints to the WTO to on this issue.
Previously, the U.S. objected to seven Chinese proposals to the WTO while China filed objections to four American proposals.
