China's rare earth policy justified: spokesman

 　　BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- China's restrictions¹ on rare earth exports are justified² and are in line with World Trade Organization rules, Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry³ of Commerce, said Thursday.

　　"The policy aims to protect resources and environment, and realize sustainable development. China has no intention of restricting free trade or protecting domestic industries by distorting its foreign trade," Shen said at a regular press conference.

　　Faced with mounting resource and environment pressures, the government has restricted the development of heavy energy consumption, heavy pollution and resource-related industries in recent years, which helped promote not only the country's scientific development but also the world's sustainable growth, Shen said.

　　On Tuesday, the European Union, United States and Japan formally asked the WTO to settle a dispute with China over restrictions placed on exports of raw materials including rare earth elements.

　　"China will properly deal with the dispute settlement request in accordance with WTO rules," the spokesman said

　　The country supplies more than 90 percent of rare earth products on the global market, but its reserves only account for about one-third of the world's total. Disorderly mining of rare earths has been blamed for environmental damage in rare-earth-rich regions across China.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。