WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Obama administration is bringing a new trade case against China that seeks to pressure the rising economic power to end its export restrictions on key materials used to manufacture high-tech good.
Senior administration officials say the U.S. will ask the World Trade Organization to facilitate talks with China over its curtailment of rare earth materials. The U.S. is bringing the case to the WTO along with the European Union and Japan.
The U.S. says Beijing’s limitations on rare earths give Chinese companies a competitive advantage and force U.S. businesses to manage with a smaller, but more costly, supply of the important materials.
Obama will announce the fresh action against China from the White House on Tuesday. The officials requested anonymity in order to speak ahead of the president.