Boswell Joins Effort to Bring WTO Case Against China for Unfair Trade Practices

Leonard Boswell

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Boswell (IA-3) has joined a bipartisan effort to urge the President and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to bring a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against China’s export restraints on rare earths, which are critical to advanced manufacturing because they are used in many American-made products.

Earlier this week, Ambassador Kirk requested consultations with China, the first step to the WTO dispute settlement process.

“For far too long China has benefitted at the expense of the U.S. and other countries by imposing unfair export restraints, harmful export duties and distorting export quotas on rare earths. I urge the administration to exercise all authority to level the playing field and protect American producers and jobs,” said Boswell, a member of the House Rare Earths Caucus.

Boswell has signed onto letters regarding this issue and is the sponsor of H.R.618, the Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act, legislation which would work to assure the long-term, secure, and sustainable supply of rare earth materials to satisfy the national security, economic well-being, and industrial production needs of the United States.