Brussels, 02/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - Taking part in a conference on raw materials in Brussels on 29 September, Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson warned that he would adopt a harder line against any restrictions by EU partners in trade in raw materials. Criticising the increase in export duties and trade restrictions practised by some countries at the same time as there had been a surge in the cost of raw materials, he promised European producers that he would direct his trade policy more towards opening up raw materials markets. He said that there were no fewer than 450 export restrictions on raw materials, from products such as metals, wood, leather, ceramics to chemical goods, textiles and furs, being practised in the world, especially in emerging countries like Argentina, Brazil, China, Russia and Ukraine. Europe imports between 70% and 80% of its raw materials. Warning that “resource nationalism risked politicising and distorting trade in raw materials,” Mandelson promised an EU offensive. The Commission, he said, would negotiate a ban on trade restrictions in raw materials in all bilateral free trade agreements, and in talks on the accession of new members to the WTO. In the WTO, where supporters of export duties have resisted all restrictions on their use, the Commission would argue for opening up trade in raw materials. It may also use the WTO dispute settlement system to require China to comply with its commitment, taken when it joined in 2001, on export restrictions on raw materials. The Commission would not hesitate to use its trade defence instruments against any country which operated export restrictions to subsidise local producers. (E.H./transl.rt)