The European Commission said on Wednesday it had called for a World Trade Organisation panel to settle a dispute with China over restrictions on exports of a number of raw materials.

The executive arm of the 27-nation European Union said the restrictions clearly breached international trade rules.

"China's restrictions on raw materials continue to distort competition and increase global prices, making conditions for our companies even more difficult in this economic climate," EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

Restrictions on raw materials give Chinese companies an unfair advantage, as downstream industries in China have access to cheaper materials than their competitors outside China, the EU executive said.

The Commission said the United States and Mexico had also turned to the WTO dispute settlement process to ensure China's compliance with its international obligations.

Reuters

Güncelleme Tarihi: 05 Kasım 2009, 00:24