ID :
150487
Sat, 11/20/2010 - 15:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/150487
The shortlink copeid
Signs of improvement seen in stalled China rare earth shipments: Ohata+
TOKYO, Nov. 19 Kyodo -
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata said Friday that the
government has confirmed ''signs of improvement'' in stalled shipments of rare
earth metals from China to Japan following Tokyo's repeated calls for Beijing
to normalize the trade.
The remarks were based on the trade ministry's survey conducted earlier this
week that showed about 60 percent of responding companies reporting varying
degrees of favorable changes in the situation, including cases in which the
minerals that had been stuck in Chinese ports were loaded on ships or allowed
to be loaded.
''I strongly expect the situation on rare earth exports (to Japan) to
normalize,'' Ohata told reporters, recalling his recent meeting in Japan with
Zhang Ping, chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, who
told him that the problem would be settled soon.
The shipments stagnated after Tokyo arrested a Chinese fishing boat captain
over the collisions in September near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East
China Sea, irking Japan, which depends on China for about 90 percent of its
rare earth supply.
The latest survey was conducted between Tuesday and Thursday with a total of 34
companies, including trading firms. Of the 27 firms that responded in detail,
16 companies reported signs of improvement, such as having heard that Chinese
customs were expected to grant permission for exporting rare earth materials
soon.
Ohata said there is information that customs procedures ''may almost normalize
from around next week,'' but added that he would like to monitor the situation
further as there are also companies that do not see any change.
An official at the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry said he had not heard
of the export stagnation disrupting the production of items made using rare
earth minerals.
Rare earths are used in the production of high-tech products such as
cellphones, digital cameras, flat-panel televisions and hybrid vehicles.
China, which currently accounts for about 97 percent of the world's rare earth
supply, has denied imposing an embargo on exports of the resources to Japan,
but said it had reinforced customs inspections on the resources for such
reasons as ''counter-smuggling.''
==Kyodo
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata said Friday that the
government has confirmed ''signs of improvement'' in stalled shipments of rare
earth metals from China to Japan following Tokyo's repeated calls for Beijing
to normalize the trade.
The remarks were based on the trade ministry's survey conducted earlier this
week that showed about 60 percent of responding companies reporting varying
degrees of favorable changes in the situation, including cases in which the
minerals that had been stuck in Chinese ports were loaded on ships or allowed
to be loaded.
''I strongly expect the situation on rare earth exports (to Japan) to
normalize,'' Ohata told reporters, recalling his recent meeting in Japan with
Zhang Ping, chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, who
told him that the problem would be settled soon.
The shipments stagnated after Tokyo arrested a Chinese fishing boat captain
over the collisions in September near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East
China Sea, irking Japan, which depends on China for about 90 percent of its
rare earth supply.
The latest survey was conducted between Tuesday and Thursday with a total of 34
companies, including trading firms. Of the 27 firms that responded in detail,
16 companies reported signs of improvement, such as having heard that Chinese
customs were expected to grant permission for exporting rare earth materials
soon.
Ohata said there is information that customs procedures ''may almost normalize
from around next week,'' but added that he would like to monitor the situation
further as there are also companies that do not see any change.
An official at the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry said he had not heard
of the export stagnation disrupting the production of items made using rare
earth minerals.
Rare earths are used in the production of high-tech products such as
cellphones, digital cameras, flat-panel televisions and hybrid vehicles.
China, which currently accounts for about 97 percent of the world's rare earth
supply, has denied imposing an embargo on exports of the resources to Japan,
but said it had reinforced customs inspections on the resources for such
reasons as ''counter-smuggling.''
==Kyodo
