16/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - Rare earths - De Gucht makes action against China conditional upon WTO verdict on raw materials. Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht awaits a WTO decision on the complaint filed by the EU, the United Sates and Mexico against export restrictions on raw materials practised by China (DS394, DS395 and DS398) before initiating action in Geneva against Chinese restrictions on rare earth exports. The decision by the WTO Appellate Body is due in January. China had, in September, appealed a verdict given on 5 July by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body, which deemed the unilateral measures taken by Beijing were incompatible with WTO rules. These measures include export duties, quotas on exports and minimum export prices, used to restrict its exports of nine raw materials - bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon metal, phosphorous, silicon carbide and zinc. (EH/transl.jl)