BEIJING (Dow Jones)--China Commerce Ministry said Wednesday that China has no intention to distort the trade in rare-earth minerals to protect its domestic industry.
The comments by the ministry came after Washington, the European Commission and Tokyo said they plan to bring a new trade suit before the World Trade Organization over Beijing's restrictions on exports of rare-earth minerals.
China has been maintaining communication with all sides and the government's management of rare earth resources is carried out for environmental purposes, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
-Eliot Gao contributed to this article, Dow Jones Newswires; (86 10) 8400-7705; eliot.gao@dowjones.com
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