China has denied it is violating World Trade Organisation rules in a strong statement less than a week after the US announced an investigation into Beijing’s rare earths and green technology policies.

“China will continue controlling measures on exploiting rare earth, its production and exports, and these measures are not in conflict with WTO regulations,” the ministry of commerce said in a statement on Wednesday. “China will continue to supply the world with rare earths.”

However, Japanese officials say that exports of rare earths – 17 elements vital to technological products as diverse as wind turbines, car batteries and sophisticated radar systems – have not returned to normal after they were halted during a diplomatic dispute last month. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that China had halted rare-earth shipments to Europe and the US.