ID :
150197
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 12:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/150197
The shortlink copeid
Japan planned to take up rare earth issue at WTO but refrained+
GENEVA, Nov. 16 Kyodo - Japanese government officials in Geneva refrained from taking up the issue of stalled shipments of rare earth minerals from China at a World Trade Organization meeting in October at the Japanese Foreign Ministry's request, several trade sources have told Kyodo News.
The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and Other International
Organizations in Geneva had apparently prepared to convey Tokyo's stance at the
meeting that China's action may have breached WTO rules, but decided not to do
so due to concerns that further deterioration in Japan-China ties would hurt
Japanese companies.
It was also concerned to prevent adverse effects on the bilateral summit held
on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum last weekend in
Yokohama, near Tokyo.
China's stalled shipments of rare earth minerals, used in high-tech products,
made headlines on Sept. 23, shortly after a Japanese summary court authorized
prosecutors to extend their detention of the captain of a Chinese fishing boat
that had collided earlier with two Japanese Coast Guard vessels near the
disputed Senkaku Islands.
The captain was later released, but tensions between the two countries remained.
On Sept. 24, Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata
mentioned the possibility of Tokyo bringing the issue of stalled shipments to
the WTO.
China denied setting an embargo of its exports of rare earth minerals but it
was later found that the country has also restricted shipments of the materials
to Europe and the United States. Japan, the United States and Europe have been
investigating the issue with an eye of bringing the case to the WTO.
Rare earth minerals are key materials for improving the quality of high-tech
appliances and hybrid cars, and Japan relies for supply on China, which
produces more than 90 percent of the material's global output.
The Japanese government officials in Geneva were apparently planning to explain
the stalled shipments at the WTO meeting, using results of questionnaires the
Japanese trade ministry conducted on Japanese companies, and convey Tokyo's
concern about the issue to other countries.
==Kyodo
The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and Other International
Organizations in Geneva had apparently prepared to convey Tokyo's stance at the
meeting that China's action may have breached WTO rules, but decided not to do
so due to concerns that further deterioration in Japan-China ties would hurt
Japanese companies.
It was also concerned to prevent adverse effects on the bilateral summit held
on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum last weekend in
Yokohama, near Tokyo.
China's stalled shipments of rare earth minerals, used in high-tech products,
made headlines on Sept. 23, shortly after a Japanese summary court authorized
prosecutors to extend their detention of the captain of a Chinese fishing boat
that had collided earlier with two Japanese Coast Guard vessels near the
disputed Senkaku Islands.
The captain was later released, but tensions between the two countries remained.
On Sept. 24, Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata
mentioned the possibility of Tokyo bringing the issue of stalled shipments to
the WTO.
China denied setting an embargo of its exports of rare earth minerals but it
was later found that the country has also restricted shipments of the materials
to Europe and the United States. Japan, the United States and Europe have been
investigating the issue with an eye of bringing the case to the WTO.
Rare earth minerals are key materials for improving the quality of high-tech
appliances and hybrid cars, and Japan relies for supply on China, which
produces more than 90 percent of the material's global output.
The Japanese government officials in Geneva were apparently planning to explain
the stalled shipments at the WTO meeting, using results of questionnaires the
Japanese trade ministry conducted on Japanese companies, and convey Tokyo's
concern about the issue to other countries.
==Kyodo
