Import curbs have long been protectionists’ weapon of choice. But export restrictions are a growing problem. On Tuesday, in the first case of its kind, the World Trade Organisation backed a complaint against China’s use of quotas and duties to limit exports. The case related to curbs on exports of raw materials such as zinc and coke. But it sets a precedent which should also apply to rare earths – minerals used in making high-tech goods from mobile phones to smart bombs, and 97 per cent of which are mined in China. This is good news.
進口限制向來是貿易保護主義者最青睞的武器。但出口限制也逐漸成為一個問題。世貿組織(WTO)周二裁定，中國使用配額和關稅來限制出口的做法違規，這也是首例此類訴訟。此案針對的是中國對鋅和焦炭等原材料出口實施的限制，但它卻開創了一個判例。該判例同樣應該適用于稀土——稀土可用于制造從手機到智能炸彈等各類高科技產品，而中國占全球稀土產量的97%。這委實是個好消息。
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