WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/DS398/6 
9 November 2009 
 
 (09-5568) 
 Original:   English 
  
 
CHINA – MEASURES RELATED TO THE EXPORTATION 
OF VARIOUS RAW MATERIALS 
 
Request for the Establishment of a Panel by Mexico
 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 4 November  2009, from the delegation of Mexico to the 
Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated pursuant to Article 6.2 of the DSU.  
_______________ 
 
  On 21 August 2009, Mexico requested consulta tions with the Government of the People's 
Republic of China ("China") pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the Understanding on Rules and 
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes  ("DSU") and Article XXII of the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994  ("GATT 1994") with respect to China's restraints on the 
exportation from China of various forms of bauxite
1, coke2, fluorspar3, magnesium4, manganese5, 
silicon carbide6, silicon metal7, yellow phosphorus8, and zinc9 (the "materials"). Mexico held 
                                                      
1 Bauxite includes but is not limited to items falling under the following ten-digit Chinese Commodity 
Codes, as listed in Attachment 1 of Notice "2009 Ex port Licensing Management Commodities List" (Ministry 
of Commerce and General Administration of Customs, Notice (2008) No. 100, January 1, 2009) ("2009 Export 
Licensing List") and/or the following eight-digit HS numbers as listed in Table 7 of Notice Regarding the 2009 Tariff Implementation Program (State Council Tariff Policy Commission, shuiweihui (2008) No. 40, 
January 1, 2009) ("2009 Export Duty List"):  2508300000/25083000, 2606000000/26060000, 26204000. 
2 Coke includes but is not limited to items falling under the following ten-digit Chinese Commodity 
Codes as listed in the 2009 Export Licensing List and/or the eight-digit HS numbers as listed in the 2009 Export 
Duty List:  2704001000/27040010. 
3 Fluorspar includes but is not limited to items falling under the following ten-digit Chinese 
Commodity Codes as listed in the 2009 Export Licensing List and/or the eight-digit HS numbers as listed in the 
2009 Export Duty List:  2529210000/25292100, 2529220000/25292200. 
4 Magnesium includes but is not limited to items falling under the following ten-digit Chinese 
Commodity Codes as listed in the 2009 Export Licensing List and/or the eight-digit HS numbers as listed in the 
2009 Export Duty List:  81041100, 81041900, 81042000. 
5 Manganese includes but is not limited to items falling under the following ten-digit Chinese 
Commodity Codes as listed in the 2009 Export Licensing List and/or the eight-digit HS numbers as listed in the 
2009 Export Duty List:  26020000, 8111001010/81110010, 8111001090/81110010. 
6 Silicon carbide includes but is not limited to items falling under the following ten-digit Chinese 
Commodity Codes as listed in the 2009 Export Licensing List and/or the eight-digit HS numbers as listed in the 
2009 Export Duty List:  2849200000, 3824909910. 
7 Silicon metal includes but is not limited to items falling under the following ten-digit Chinese 
Commodity Codes as listed in the 2009 Export Licensing List and/or the eight-digit HS numbers as listed in the 
2009 Export Duty List:  28046900. 
8 Yellow phosphorus includes but is not limited to items falling under the following  ten-digit Chinese 
Commodity Codes as listed in the 2009 Export Licensing List and/or the eight-digit HS numbers as listed in the 
2009 Export Duty List:  28047010. 
9 Zinc includes but is not limited to items falling under the following ten-digit Chinese Commodity 
Codes as listed in the 2009 Export Licensing List and/or the eight-digit HS numbers as listed in the 2009 Export WT/DS398/6 
Page 2  
 
  consultations with China on September 1-2, 2009.  Those consultations unfortunately did not resolve 
the dispute.   
I. EXPORT QUOTAS 
 China subjects the exportation of bauxite, c oke, fluorspar, silicon carbide, and zinc to 
quantitative restrictions such as quotas. 
  Mexico understands that these Chinese measures are reflected in, among others: 
 
• Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China (adopted at the 8
th Session of 
the Standing Committee of the Tenth Nati onal People's Congress on April 6, 2004, 
promulgated on July 1, 2004)  
 
• Regulation of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Import and 
Export of Goods (passed at the forty-sixth executive meeting of the State Council on October 31, 2001, January 1, 2002) 
 
• Measures for the Administration of License for the Export of Goods (Order of the 
Ministry of Commerce (2008) No. 11, July 1, 2008) 
 
• Measures for the Administration of E xport Commodities Quotas (Order of the 
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation No. 12, adopted on December 
20, 2001, January 1, 2002) 
 
• Measures of Quota Bidding for Export Co mmodities (Decree of the Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation No. 11, adopted on December 20, 2001, 
January 1, 2002) 
 
• Measures for the Administration of the Organs for Issuing the Licenses of Import and 
Export Commodities (Ministry of Fore ign Trade and Econom ic Cooperation, 
waijingmaopeiguanhanzi (1999) No . 68, September 21, 1999) 
 
• Implementation Rules of Export Quota Biddi ng for Industrial Products (Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic C ooperation, November 8, 2001)  
 
• Working Rules on Issuing Export Licenses (Ministry of Commerce, shangpeifa 
(2008) No. 398, October 9, 2008) 
 
• Rules on the Administration of Import and Export License Certificates (Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperati on, waijingmaopeizi (1999) No. 87, 
December 6, 1999)  
 
• Notice Regarding 2009 Export Quota Amounts for Agricultural and Industrial 
Products (Ministry of Commerce, Notic e (2008) No. 83, January 1, 2009) 
 
• Notice Regarding Passing Down the 2009 First Batch Regular Trade Coke Export 
Quota (Ministry of Commerce, shangmaohan (2008) No. 140, January 1, 2009) 
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 
Duty List: 2608000001/26080000, 2608000090/26080000, 790111111000/790111100, 7901119000/79011190, 
7901120000/79011200, 7901200000/79012000, 79020000, 26201100, 26201900.  WT/DS398/6 
 Page 3 
 
 
  • 2009 Coke Export Quota Declaration Cond itions and Declaration Procedures 
(Ministry of Commerce, Notice (2008) No. 76, October 13, 2008) 
 
• Notice "2009 Export Licensing Management Commodities List" (Ministry of 
Commerce and General Administration of Customs, Notice (2008) No. 100, January 1, 2009) 
 
• Announcement of the Ministry of Commer ce Issuing the "2009 Graded License-
Issuing List of Commodities Subject to Export License Administration" (Ministry of Commerce, Notice (2008) No. 124, January 1, 2009)  
 
• Announcement Regarding Printing "Working Rules on Issuing Export Licenses" 
(Ministry of Commerce, shangpeifa (2008) No. 398, October 9, 2008)  
 
• Announcement of Ministry of Commerce on Matters regarding the First Bidding for 
Export Quotas of Industrial Products in 2009 (Ministry of Commerce, Announcement 
(2008) No. 85, October 30, 2008) 
 
• Announcement of Ministry of Commerce on the Notice for the Second Invitation for 
the Bidding for Industrial Product Export Quotas in 2009 (Ministry of Commerce, Announcement (2009) No. 42, June 9, 2009) 
 
• Circular of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on Distribution 
of the "Implementation Rules of Expor t Quota Bidding for Industrial Products" 
(Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic C ooperation, issued on November 8, 2001) 
 
• Quotas of Fluorspar Lump (Powder) of 2009 (Committee for the Invitation for bid for 
Export Commodity Quotas, December 11, 2008) 
 
• Quotas of Bauxite of 2009 (Committee fo r the Invitation for bid for Export 
Commodity Quotas, December 10, 2008) 
 
• Quotas of Silicon Carbide of 2009 (Committe e for the Invitation for bid for Export 
Commodity Quotas, December 11, 2008) 
 
• Announcement on the Second Invitation for the Bidding of Select Industrial Product 
Export Quotas in 2009 (Committee for the Invitation for bid for Export Commodity 
Quotas, September 16, 2009) 
 
• Quotas of Silicon Carbide of 2009, Sec ond Round (Committee for the Invitation for 
bid for Export Commodity Quotas, September 16, 2009) 
 
• Notice Regarding Passing Down the 2009 Second Batch Regular Trade Coke and 
Rare Earth Export Quota (Ministry of Commerce, shangzihan (2009) No. 73, 
September 8, 2009) 
 
• Notice Regarding Announcement of the 2010 Export Quota Amounts for Agricultural 
and Industrial Products (Ministry of Commerce, Notice (2009) No. 88, October 29, 2009) 
 
• As well as any amendments or extensions; related measures; replacement measures; 
renewal measures; and implementing measures. WT/DS398/6 
Page 4  
 
    
 Mexico considers that these measures are incons istent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994 as 
well as China's obligations under the provisions of paragraph 1.2 of Part I of the Protocol on the 
Accession of the People's Republic of China (WT/L/432) ("Accession Protocol"), which incorporates 
commitments in paragraphs 162 and 165 of the Working Party Report on the Accession of China  
(WT/MIN(01)/3) ("Working Party Report").  
 
II. EXPORT DUTIES  
 China subjects the materials to export duties.   
 
 China imposes export duty rates, "temporary" expo rt duty rates, and/or "special" export duty 
rates of various magnitudes on bauxite, coke, fluor spar, magnesium, manganese, silicon metal, yellow 
phosphorus, and zinc.  These export duties are imposed either on materials that are not listed in Annex 
6 of the Accession Protocol, or on materials that are listed in Annex 6 of the Accession Protocol, but at rates that exceed the maximum rates designated in Annex 6.  
 
 In addition, as discussed in Sec tion III below, China allocates the quotas
10 imposed on the 
exportation of bauxite, fluorspar, and silicon carbide  through a bidding system.  In connection with 
the administration of this bidding system, China requi res enterprises to pay a charge in order to export 
these materials.  However, bauxite, fluorspar, a nd silicon carbide are not listed in Annex 6 of the 
Accession Protocol. 
 
 Mexico understands that these Chinese measures are reflected in, among others: 
 
• Customs Law of the People's Republic of China (adopted at the 19th Meeting of the 
Standing Committee of the Sixth Nationa l People's Congress on January 22, 1987, 
amended July 8, 2000) 
 
• Regulations of the People's Republic of Ch ina on Import and Export Duties (Order of 
the State Council (2003) No. 392, adopted at the 26th executive meeting of the State 
Council on October 29, 2003, January 1, 2004) 
 
• Notice Regarding the 2009 Tariff Implemen tation Program (State Council Tariff 
Policy Commission, shuiweihui (2008) No. 40, January 1, 2009) 
 
• Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China (adopted at the 8th Session of 
the Standing Committee of the Tenth Nati onal People's Congress on April 6, 2004, 
promulgated on July 1, 2004)  
 
• Regulation of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Import and 
Export of Goods (passed at the forty-sixth executive meeting of the State Council on 
October 31, 2001, January 1, 2002) 
 
• Measures for the Administration of License for the Export of Goods (Order of the 
Ministry of Commerce (2008) No. 11, July 1, 2008) 
 
• Measures of Quota Bidding for Export Co mmodities (Decree of the Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation No. 11, adopted on December 20, 2001, 
January 1, 2002) 
                                                      
10  Discussed in Section I above.  WT/DS398/6 
 Page 5 
 
 
   
• Implementation Rules of Export Quota Biddi ng for Industrial Products (Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic C ooperation, November 8, 2001)  
 
• Notice Regarding 2009 Export Quota Amounts for Agricultural and Industrial 
Products (Ministry of Commerce, Notic e (2008) No. 83, January 1, 2009) 
 
• Notice "2009 Export Licensing Management Commodities List" (Ministry of 
Commerce and General Administration of Customs, Notice (2008) No. 100, January 1, 2009) 
 
• Announcement of Ministry of Commerce on Matters regarding the First Bidding for 
Export Quotas of Industrial Products in 2009 (Ministry of Commerce, Announcement 
(2008) No. 85, October 30, 2008) 
 
• Announcement of Ministry of Commerce on the Notice for the Second Invitation for 
the Bidding for Industrial Product Export Quotas in 2009 (Ministry of Commerce, Announcement (2009) No. 42, June 9, 2009) 
 
• Circular of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on Distribution 
of the "Implementation Rules of Expor t Quota Bidding for Industrial Products" 
(Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic C ooperation, issued on November 8, 2001) 
 
• Quotas of Fluorspar Lump (Powder) of 2009 (Committee for the Invitation for bid for 
Export Commodity Quotas, December 11, 2008) 
 
• Quotas of Bauxite of 2009 (Committee fo r the Invitation for bid for Export 
Commodity Quotas, December 10, 2008) 
 
• Quotas of Silicon Carbide of 2009 (Committe e for the Invitation for bid for Export 
Commodity Quotas, December 11, 2008) 
 
• Announcement on the Second Invitation for the Bidding of Select Industrial Product 
Export Quotas in 2009 (Committee for the Invitation for bid for Export Commodity 
Quotas, September 16, 2009) 
 
• Quotas of Silicon Carbide of 2009, Sec ond Round (Committee for the Invitation for 
bid for Export Commodity Quotas, September 16, 2009) 
 
• Notice Regarding Announcement of the 2010 Export Quota Amounts for Agricultural 
and Industrial Products (Ministry of Commerce, Notice (2009) No. 88, October 29, 2009) 
 
• As well as any amendments or extensions; related measures; replacement measures; 
renewal measures; and implementing measures. 
  Mexico considers that these measures are incons istent with paragraph 11.3 of Part I of the 
Accession Protocol, as well as China's obligations unde r the provisions of paragraph 1.2 of Part I of 
the Accession Protocol, which incorporates commitmen ts referred to in paragraph 342 of the Working 
Party Report.  WT/DS398/6 
Page 6  
 
  III. ADDITIONAL RESTRAINTS IMPOSED ON EXPORTATION 
 In addition to the export quotas and export du ties discussed in Sections I and II above, China 
imposes other restraints on the exportation of the mate rials, administers its measures in a manner that 
is not uniform, impartial, and reasonable, impo ses excessive fees and formalities on exportation, and 
does not publish certain measures pertaining to requi rements, restrictions, or prohibitions on exports. 
 
 China administers the export quotas imposed on bauxite, coke, fluorspar, silicon carbide, and 
zinc discussed in Section I above, through its mi nistries and other organizations under the State 
Council as well as chambers of commerce and industry associations, in a manner that restricts exports 
and is not uniform, impartial and reasonable.  In connection with the administration of the quotas for 
these materials, China imposes restrictions on the right of Chinese enterprises as well as foreign 
enterprises and individuals to export.   China allocates the export quotas imposed on bauxite, fluorspar, and silicon carbide discussed in Section I above, through a bidding system.  Chin a administers the requirements and procedures for 
this bidding system through its ministries and ot her organizations under the State Council as well as 
chambers of commerce and industry associations, in  a manner that restricts exports and is not 
uniform, impartial and reasonable.  In connection with the administration of this bidding system, 
China also requires foreign-invest ed enterprises to satisfy certain criteria in order to export these 
materials that Chinese enterprises n eed not satisfy. Further, China requires enterprises to pay a charge 
in order to export these materials that is  excessive and imposes excessive formalities on the 
exportation of these materials. 
  China does not publish the amount for the ex port quota for zinc or any conditions or 
procedures for applying entities to qualify to export zinc.  
 In addition, China restricts the exportation of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, manganese, silicon 
carbide, and zinc by subjecting these materials to non-automatic licensing.  China imposes the non-automatic export licensing for bauxite, coke, fluorsp ar, silicon carbide, and zinc in connection with 
the administration of the export quotas discussed in Section I, as an additional restraint on the exportation of those materials.    
 China also imposes quantitative r estrictions on the exportation of the materials by requiring 
that prices for the materials meet or exceed a mini mum price before they may be exported.  Further, 
through its ministries and other organizations un der the State Council as well as chambers of 
commerce and industry associations, China admini sters the price requirements in a manner that 
restricts exports and is not uniform, impartial, a nd reasonable.  China also does not publish certain 
measures relating to these requirements in a manner that enables governments and traders to become 
acquainted with them.   Mexico understands that these Chinese measures are reflected in, among others: 
 
• Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China (adopted at the 8
th Session of 
the Standing Committee of the Tenth Nati onal People's Congress on April 6, 2004, 
promulgated on July 1, 2004) 
 
• Regulation of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Import and 
Export of Goods (passed at the forty-sixth executive meeting of the State Council on October 31, 2001, January 1, 2002) 
  WT/DS398/6 
 Page 7 
 
 
  • Measures for the Administration of License for the Export of Goods (Order of the 
Ministry of Commerce (2008) No. 11, July 1, 2008) 
 
• Measures for the Administration of E xport Commodities Quotas (Order of the 
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation No. 12, adopted on December 20, 2001, January 1, 2002) 
 
• Measures of Quota Bidding for Export Co mmodities (Decree of the Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation No. 11, adopted on December 20, 2001, 
January 1, 2002) 
 
• Measures for the Administration of the Organs for Issuing the Licenses of Import and 
Export Commodities (Ministry of Fore ign Trade and Econom ic Cooperation, 
waijingmaopeiguanhanzi (1999) No . 68, September 21, 1999) 
 
• Working Rules on Issuing Export Licenses (Ministry of Commerce, shangpeifa 
(2008) No. 398, October 9, 2008) 
 
• Rules on the Administration of Import and Export License Certificates (Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperati on, waijingmaopeizi (1999) No. 87, 
December 6, 1999) 
 
• Implementation Rules of Export Quota Biddi ng for Industrial Products (Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic C ooperation, November 8, 2001)  
 
• Notice Regarding 2009 Export Quota Amounts for Agricultural and Industrial 
Products (Ministry of Commerce, Notic e (2008) No. 83, January 1, 2009) 
 
• Notice Regarding Passing Down the 2009 First Batch Regular Trade Coke Export 
Quota (Ministry of Commerce, shangmaohan (2008) No. 140, January 1, 2009) 
 
• 2009 Coke Export Quota Declaration Cond itions and Declaration Procedures 
(Ministry of Commerce, Notice (2008) No. 76, October 13, 2008) 
 
• Notice "2009 Export Licensing Management Commodities List" (Ministry of 
Commerce and General Administration of Customs, Notice (2008) No. 100, January 
1, 2009) 
 
• Announcement of the Ministry of Commer ce Issuing the "2009 Graded License-
Issuing List of Commodities Subject to Export License Administration" (Ministry of Commerce, Notice (2008) No. 124, January 1, 2009) 
 
• Announcement Regarding Printing "Working Rules on Issuing Export Licenses" 
(Ministry of Commerce, shangpeifa (2008) No. 398, October 9, 2008) 
 
• Announcement of Ministry of Commerce on Matters regarding the First Bidding for 
Export Quotas of Industrial Products in 2009 (Ministry of Commerce, Announcement 
(2008) No. 85, October 30, 2008) 
 
• 
Announcement of Ministry of Commerce on the Notice for the Second Invitation for 
the Bidding for Industrial Product Export Quotas in 2009 (Ministry of Commerce, Announcement (2009) No. 42, June 9, 2009) WT/DS398/6 
Page 8  
 
   
• Circular of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on Distribution 
of the "Implementation Rules of Expor t Quota Bidding for Industrial Products" 
(Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic C ooperation, issued on November 8, 2001) 
 
• Quotas of Fluorspar Lump (Powder) of 2009 (Committee for the Invitation for bid for 
Export Commodity Quotas, December 11, 2008) 
 
• Quotas of Bauxite of 2009 (Committee fo r the Invitation for bid for Export 
Commodity Quotas, December 10, 2008) 
 
• Quotas of Silicon Carbide of 2009 (Committe e for the Invitation for bid for Export 
Commodity Quotas, December 11, 2008) 
 
• Announcement on the Second Invitation for the Bidding of Select Industrial Product 
Export Quotas in 2009 (Committee for the Invitation for bid for Export Commodity 
Quotas, September 16, 2009) 
 
• Quotas of Silicon Carbide of 2009, Sec ond Round (Committee for the Invitation for 
Bid for Export Commodity Quotas, September 16, 2009) 
 
• Notice Regarding Passing Down the 2009 Second Batch Regular Trade Coke and 
Rare Earth Export Quota (Ministry of Commerce, ShangZiHan (2009) No. 73, 
September 8, 2009) 
 
• Notice Regarding Announcement of the 2010 Export Quota Amounts for Agricultural 
and Industrial Products (Ministry of  Commerce, Notice (2009) No. 88, 
October 29, 2009) 
 
• Charter of the China Chamber of Commerc e of Metals, Minera ls and Chemicals 
Importers and Exporters 
 
• Charter of the China Coking Industry Association 
 
• Measures for the Administration over Foreign Trade and Economic Social 
Organizations (Ministry of Foreign Tr ade and Economic Cooperation, February 
26, 1991) 
 
• Notice Regarding Printing and Distributi on of Several Regulations for Personnel 
Management of Chambers of Commerce fo r Importers and Exporters (Ministry of 
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, September 23, 1994) 
 
• Interim Regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Ec onomic Cooperation on 
Punishment for Conduct at Exporting at Lower-than-Normal Price (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, March 20, 1996)  
 
• Notice Regarding Rules for Contract Declaration for Chemicals-Related Verification 
and Stamp Products (China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and 
Chemicals Importers and E xporters Petroleum and Chem icals Products Department, 
December 30, 2003) 
  WT/DS398/6 
 Page 9 
 
 
  • Online Verification and Certification Oper ating Steps (China Chamber of Commerce 
of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals Importers and Exporters) 
 
• Rules for Coordination with Respect to Cu stoms Price Review of Export Products, 
(Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation guanzonghanzi No. 21, 1997)  
 
• Notice of the Rules on Price Reviews of Export Products by the Customs, (Ministry 
of Foreign Trade and Economic C ooperation guanzonghanzi No. 21, 1997) 
 
• Notice on the Issuance of "Various Provisions on the Strengthening of Export Product 
Coordination and Management" (Ministry of  Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, 
jinchufa (1991) No. 52, February 22, 1991) 
 
• "Various Provisions on the Strengtheni ng of Export Product Coordination and 
Management" (Ministry of Foreign Economic  Relations and Trade, jinchufa (1991) 
No. 52, February 22, 1991) 
 
• Decision of the State Council on Various Questions on the Further Reform and 
Improvement of the Foreign Trade System (State Council, guofa (1990) No. 70, January 1, 1991) 
 
• As well as any amendments or extensions; related measures; replacement measures; 
renewal measures; and implementing measures. 
  Mexico considers that these measures are inc onsistent with Article VIII:1(a) and VIII:4, 
Article X:1 and X:3(a), and Article XI:1 of the GAT T 1994 and paragraphs 2(A)2, 5.1, 5.2 and 8.2 of 
Part I of the Accession Protocol, as well as China's obligations under the provis ions of paragraph 1.2 
of Part I of the Accession Protocol, which incor porates commitments in paragraphs 83, 84, 162, and 
165 of the Working Party Report.  
  Accordingly, Mexico respectfully requests that , pursuant to Article 6 of the DSU, the Dispute 
Settlement Body establish a panel to examine this ma tter, with the standard terms of reference as set 
out in Article 7.1 of the DSU. 
  
__________