Wall Street Journal (October 19)
2010/ 10/ 20 by jd in Global News
“Like OPEC in the 1970s, Beijing seems willing to put the developed world over a barrel.” China has become the world’s final assembler, and aspires to more. By placing a stranglehold on the export of rare earths, Beijing thinks it can force technology transfer. If essential rare earths are difficult to attain overseas, companies will have to move high-end processes to China. The Wall Street Journal believes this gambit is unacceptable. China’s accession to the WTO in 2000 specifically forbids quotas on all products and export taxes on rare earths.
Tags: China, Quotas, Rare earths, Technology transfer, WTO
