China to Raise Export Tariffs on Certain Rare Earth Exports

December 15, 2010

According to China’s Ministry of Finance, China will raise export tariffs on certain rare earths, beginning in 2011. China’s State Council has already approved tariff adjustment rates on certain imports and exports beginning January 1, 2011. This tariff adjustment follows a dispute over Chinese rare earth exports in October 2010 that involved an unofficial embargo on exporting rare earth goods from China to the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Controversy over China’s rare earth policies also contributed to the U.S. Trade Representative initiating a Section 302 investigation into China’s green technology sector on October 20, 2010.