Following successful legal actions in 2012 and 2014, the EU has initiated a third legal challenge to restrictions on Chinese exports of key metals and minerals, including graphite, cobalt, copper, lead, chromium, magnesia, talcum, tantalum, tin, antimony and indium. Currently, China imposes a set of export restrictions, including export duties and export quotas which restrict access to these products for companies outside China. EU trade officials have claimed that these restrictions have distorted the market and favoured the Chinese industry at the expense of EU companies and consumers. Formal consultations between the EU and China will take place over 60 days. If there is no satisfactory solution, the EU can request the WTO to set up a panel to rule on the compatibility of China’s measures with WTO rules.
