Coking coal negotiations between EU and China continue

Coking coal negotiations between EU and China continue

European Union (EU) and Chinese officials are still negotiating on coking coal export restriction imposed by China despite today is deadline for China to lift the restriction on coking coal exports. As previously reported by SteelOrbis, EU Commission set today i.e May 28, 2004 as deadline for China to lift the restrictions on coking coal exports after certain negotiations. However, the negotiations are still continuing despite deadline is today. EU officials announced today that the negotiations are going well however it is not yet certain that whether EU will take the issue to World Trade Organization (WTO) or not. Earlier this week, EU, with the ground that Chinese restriction on exports of coking coal, a crucial raw material in steel making, is against trade laws, warned China that it would take the case to WTO unless China lifts the restrictions by May 28, 2004. However, negotiations between the two parties are still continuing today. On the side of China, the officials stated today that, they are on the verge of reaching a satisfying solution with EU officials.