Rare earths trade dispute

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The rare earths trade dispute, between China on one side and several countries (led chiefly by the United States) on the other, was over China's export restrictions on rare earth elements as well as tungsten and molybdenum. Rare earth metals are used to make powerful neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium magnets, defense products and many electronics.

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The US, EU and Japan argued that the restrictions were a violation of the WTO trade regulations, while China stated that the restrictions are aimed at resource conservation and environmental protection [ citation needed ]. In 2012, the Obama administration filed a case with the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO [ citation needed ]. In 2014, the WTO ruled against China, which led China to drop the export quotas in 2015 [ citation needed ].

The 2010 episode generated increased investment in rare earth developments outside China.

Products at issue

There are 17 rare earth metals, and their production is a complex multi-stage process. Exports may be in the form of ores or goods at any stage including mined rare earth ores (all containing a tiny mix of rare earths), refined ore concentrates, refined highly pure metals, or products incorporating refined metals (car li-on batteries, magnets or magnet incorporating windmill generators). Figures given for the various stages are widely undefined as to what level export is being addressed and figures may often be misquoted due to the complexity of the topic. Trade disputes can address country interests over costs, competitive industry positions, or strategic supplies, which all have different relevant export levels and time horizons to consider.

Known reserves of rare earths ores are 120 million tones, with China possessing about one-third of these. [1]

The first stage, the mining process yields rare earth ores. More than 60% of rare earth metals (as of 2019) are mined by China and through controlled entities predominantly in Africa. [2] The second stage is the refining process where ores are separated into some pure metals and some concentrates of light rare earths or heavy rare earth metals. The refining process is highly specific to the nature of the ore and target metals, with concentrates produced intended for other refineries to conduct further refining. China refines 85% refines of the global market share. [2] It refines 68% of nickel globally, 40% of copper, 59% of lithium, and 73% of cobalt. [2]

Production of parts and goods is yet another industrial step performed by many different companies. China produces a large share of these goods and accounts for the majority of the worlds exports, especially lithium-ion batteries and neodymium magnets. It accounts for most of the global production of mineral-rich components for battery cells, including 70% of cathodes, 85% of anodes, 66% of separators, and 62% of electrolytes [2] China holds 78% of the world's cell manufacturing capacity for EV batteries, which are then assembled into modules that are used to form a battery pack. [3] The country also hosts roughly 75% of the world's lithium-ion battery megafactories. [3] This makes China the largest consumer of the minerals it refines. [1] [2]

The rare earth elements (or rare earths) are 17 elements that have magnetic and conductive properties. [4] They are used extensively in electronic gadgets such as cellphones, and in national defense equipment. Despite their name, the elements are not so rare, as they can be found widely. [5] However, they are not often found in economically exploitable concentrations. [4] [5] Their mining is also environmentally hazardous. [5] The rare earths were discovered and first put to industrial use in the United States. But lower labor costs and less strict environmental regulations in China have now enabled the country to be the world's predominant supplier of rare earths. [4] [5]

History of the dispute

China had levied duties and implemented quotas on exporting rare earth elements since 2006 [ citation needed ]. Dispute arose when the Chinese government reduced its export quotas by 40% in 2010, sending the rare earths prices in the markets outside China soaring [ citation needed ]. The government argued that the quotas were necessary to protect the environment [ citation needed ]. Critics charged, however, that the move was protectionism in disguise [ citation needed ]. The difference in prices inside and outside China gave unfair advantage to Chinese firms [ citation needed ].

The American news program 60 Minutes broadcast a segment on the dispute in which the news anchor said that, due to the ubiquity of the use of the rare earths, especially in weaponry, the Chinese restrictions posed a national security threat to the US. [6]

China was accused of unofficially banning of rare earths exports to Japan during a diplomatic standoff between the two countries after the 2010 Senkaku boat collision incident, though China denies such reports. Critics pointed at this incident to argue that China was not above using its dominance in rare earths production to gain leverage in international negotiations. [7] [6]

The WTO case

The US brought a case to WTO's Dispute Settlement Body against the Chinese restrictions. The European Union and Japan also joined the case on the US side. The US argued that the Chinese restrictions were in breach of the accession treaty that China had signed when it joined the WTO in 2001. The treaty disallowed export duties and quotas, except for goods specifically listed. Rare earths were not among the goods specifically listed. [8]

China argued that its restrictions were legal because WTO regulations allow countries to impose export duties and quotas for reasons of conservation and to protect plant, animal, and human safety. [8] [9]

The Dispute Settlement Panel ruled against China. Though the Panel acknowledged that countries are allowed to restrict exports for reasons brought up by China, the Panel was not persuaded that the Chinese restrictions served those reasons. It is true that countries have the right to restrict mining for reasons of conservation and safety, but once the material is out of the ground, WTO member governments could not discriminate between domestic and foreign firms in giving access to the mined resource. China's restrictions gave its domestic firms preferential access to the rare earths, which was against the principle of “non-discrimination” that WTO members are obligated to follow.

Response to the WTO ruling

China expressed disappointment with the ruling (NYT) and filed an appeal repeating its conservation argument. The Appellate panel of the WTO, however, upheld the ruling. The US Trade Representative hailed the ruling as a victory for openness and fairness around the world. China dropped its export restrictions in January 2015. [10]

As a result of the higher prices China charged outside of China prior to the WTO ruling, many rare earth mining companies in the U.S. and Europe were able to raise capital, and in some instances publicly, through stock sales. Chevron Mining spun off the Molycorp-owned Mountain Pass rare earth mine as a free-standing public company in 2008. However, in response to the WTO action and this growth in competition, China dropped the price of rare earths significantly, making these entities less attractive for investment and, in the case of Molycorp, unsustainable, forcing it into bankruptcy in June 2015. [11] In June 2017, the Molycorp mine was sold out of bankruptcy at auction and was purchased by MP Mine Operations LLC, a company in which Shenghe Resources, a Chinese minority shareholder, is granted the exclusive right to market all rare earths from the mine. [12]

The rare earths dispute formed part of the storyline in Season 2 of the Netflix series House of Cards (Real Clear World) and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. [13]

From February to May 2015, the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum ran an art exhibition titled RARE EARTHS related to the dispute, featuring seventeen commissioned works, one for each element. Contemporary artists from The European Union, China, Mexico, Congo and Russia contributed works. Artist and political activist Ai Weiwei was among the artists who contributed. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining</span> Extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth

Mining is the extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created artificially in a laboratory or factory. Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, chalk, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay. The ore must be a rock or mineral that contains valuable constituent, can be extracted or mined and sold for profit. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any non-renewable resource such as petroleum, natural gas, or even water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rare-earth element</span> Any of the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium

The rare-earth elements (REE), also called the rare-earth metals or rare earths, and sometimes the lanthanides or lanthanoids, are a set of 17 nearly indistinguishable lustrous silvery-white soft heavy metals. Compounds containing rare earths have diverse applications in electrical and electronic components, lasers, glass, magnetic materials, and industrial processes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trade justice</span>

Trade justice is a campaign by non-governmental organisations, plus efforts by other actors, to change the rules and practices of world trade in order to promote fairness. These organizations include consumer groups, trade unions, faith groups, aid agencies and environmental groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prospecting</span> The physical search for minerals

Prospecting is the first stage of the geological analysis of a territory. It is the search for minerals, fossils, precious metals, or mineral specimens. It is also known as fossicking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Japan</span> Overview of mining in Japan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Australia</span> Primary sector industry

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Western Australia</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining industry of Nigeria</span>

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The Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facility, owned by MP Materials, is an open-pit mine of rare-earth elements on the south flank of the Clark Mountain Range in California, 53 miles (85 km) southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2020 the mine supplied 15.8% of the world's rare-earth production. It is the only rare-earth mining and processing facility in the United States. It is the largest single known deposit of such minerals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kvanefjeld</span> Mine in Kujalleq, Greenland

Kvanefjeld, in Greenland, is the site of a mineral deposit, which is claimed to be the world's second-largest deposit of rare-earth oxides, and the sixth-largest deposit of uranium. There are also substantial sodium fluoride deposits, and Kvanefjeld is thought to be one of the largest multi-element deposits of its kind in the world.

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Energy Transition Minerals Ltd is an ASX-listed company focused on the exploration, development and financing of minerals that are critical to a low carbon future. The company’s current projects include the Kvanefjeld, located in Greenland, Villasrubias, located in Spain, and two Lithium projects located in the James Bay region in Canada.

American Elements is a global manufacturer and distributor of advanced materials with an over 35,000-page online product catalog and compendium of information on the chemical elements, advanced materials, and high technology applications. The company's headquarters and educational programs are based in Los Angeles, California. Its research and production facilities are located in Salt Lake City, Utah; Monterrey, Mexico;China; and Manchester, UK.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">MP Materials</span> American Rare Earth materials company

MP Materials Corp. is an American rare-earth materials company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. MP Materials owns and operates the Mountain Pass mine, the only operating rare earth mine and processing facility in the United States. The rare earth materials industry is dominated by China, which produces 60% of the world's rare earth elements and processes 90% of these materials, including imports from other countries. MP Materials focuses its production on Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr), a rare earth material used in high-strength permanent magnets that power the traction motors found in electric vehicles, robotics, wind turbines, drones and other advanced motion technologies. MP Materials is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "MP". As of December 2021, JHL Capital Group, QVT Financial and CEO James Litinsky were the company's three largest shareholders, with about 7.7% of the company owned by Shenghe Resources, a Chinese company partly owned by the country's Ministry of Natural Resources.

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References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries (PDF) (Report). U.S. Geological Survey. January 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 China's Role in Supplying Critical Minerals for the Global Energy Transition (PDF) (Report). The Brooking Institute. July 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 Pettitt, J. (15 January 2022). "How the U.S. fell behind in lithium, the "white gold" of electric vehicles". CNBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Yap, Chuin-Wei (January 15, 2015). "China Ends Rare-Earth Minerals Export Quotas". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Overland, Indra (2019-03-01). "The geopolitics of renewable energy: Debunking four emerging myths". Energy Research & Social Science. 49: 36–40. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2018.10.018 . hdl: 11250/2579292 . ISSN   2214-6296.
  6. 1 2 Stahl, Lesley (22 March 2015). "Modern Devices under china's Grip". 60 minutes.
  7. ↑ Trakimavicius, Lukas (25 February 2021). "EU, U.S. exploring new sources of Rare Earth Minerals, should China limit exports". Energy Post. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  8. 1 2 "China — Measures Related to the Exportation of Rare Earths, Tungsten and Molybdenum". WTO. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Gavin, Brigid (3 August 2013). "China's growing conflict with the WTO". Intereconomics. 48 (4): 254–261. doi:10.1007/s10272-013-0467-6. hdl: 10419/126399 . S2CID   155077045.
  10. ↑ "China Drops Its Export Limits on Rare Earths". The New York Times. 5 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Miller, John (June 25, 2015). "Molycorp Files for Bankruptcy Protection". Wall Street Journal.
  12. ↑ Brickley, Peg (June 23, 2017). "Mountain Pass Mine Approved for Sale to JHL, QVT, Shenghe". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Despite what Black Ops II says, rare earth minerals will not cause a U.S.-China cold war". Foreign Policy. 2012-11-26. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  14. ↑ "Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary". Tba21.org. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
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