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(LONE TREE, CO)– U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-CO, chairman of Congressional Rare Earth Caucus, praised a decision today by the Obama administration to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization against China’s unfair trade policy that illegally limits the export of rare earth elements. 

“I am glad that the United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk has decided to take action with the WTO against China’s unfair export restraints on rare earths,” Coffman said. “Not only are rare earths vital to the growth of green-energy jobs and high-tech innovation, but they are also critical to U.S. national security. This is an important step in ensuring that a level playing field exists for trade policy for these critical elements, and I have been pushing for this for over a year now. I am relieved that President Obama recognized our concerns and honored his pledge to take a tougher stance against China’s unfair trade practices regarding rare earths.”

In March and July of 2011, Coffman took the lead on bipartisan letters demanding the U.S. Trade Representative Kirk file an official complaint against China’s rare earth trade policies.  In February, he sent another bipartisan letter to President Obama, in response to his State of the Union speech, asking that his new emphasis on trade fairness start first with the Chinese rare earth export policy. It again requested USTR action before the WTO on Chinese rare earth trade policy.

Rare earths are 17 elements that are used in many advanced technologies, from smart phones to precision guided munitions to components necessary for the production of renewable energy. China currently controls nearly 97 percent of the world’s supply of rare earth elements and Chinese officials have cut exports of rare earth metals by 40 percent yearly since 2009.

In addition to repeatedly calling on U.S. Trade Representative Kirk to file a complaint with the WTO regarding China’s rare earths trade policy, Coffman, an early rare earth advocate in Congress, has also introduced legislation in an effort to shift our reliance away from China and to rebuild a competitive supply chain for rare earth minerals in the U.S. In addition, he successfully attached two amendments aimed at bolstering domestic rare earth reserves to the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act.