On July 13, 2016, the U.S. launched a trade enforcement action against China’s export duties on nine key metals and minerals at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
According to the office of the U.S Trade Representative (USTR), China has kept export duties from 5 to 20 percent on antimony, cobalt, copper, graphite, lead, magnesia, talc, tantalum and tin. The duties violate WTO rules, give an unfair advantage to Chinese manufacturers, and make them more expensive for U.S. manufacturers. According to the USTR, China should have eliminated the duties after it joined the WTO in 2001, but it has not.
A large number of American industries, including foundries, are disadvantaged by China’s policy. Many foundries utilize copper, cobalt, graphite, and/or lead as key inputs in the metalcasting process. AFS is supportive of the USTR’s actions to remove China's export duties on these critical raw materials.