Beijing - China is scaling back its exports next year of rare earth minerals used in high-tech products, which could be an unpopular move with countries such as the United States and Japan.
Numbers released on Tuesday by the commerce ministry show export quotas of the rare minerals will be down 11% next year, as compared to the same period this year.
China accounts for 97% of the global production of rare earths, which are essential to high-tech products such as cellphones, computer drives and hybrid cars.
Countries were alarmed when Beijing blocked shipments of the minerals to Japan earlier this year amid a dispute involving the sovereignty of a set of islands.
The new numbers say China is allocating 14 446 tonnes of rare earths among 31 companies.