Kebijakan Cina Membatasi Ekspor Logam Tanah Jarang (LTJ) ke Amerika Serikat (China's Policy to Restrict Rare Earth Metal Export to United State of America)

Abstract

Rare Earth Metal (REM) or Rare Earth Element is one of unrenewable natural resources as a main resource in electronic, automotive, and military industries. Almost all of resent high technology and green products, such as, television, smart phone, hybrid car, and nuclear guidance tools use REM. China is the world largest REM user, producer, and exporter, in which China also has the highest percentage of aplication of REM. However, since 2005, the REM prices have decreased significantly and the Chinese Government started to restrict the REM export to the importer countries, especially United States. The reason behind REM export restrictiotion was based on costs and benefits consideration whose goals are to replace all the costs that had been used, and to fulfil increasing domestic needs and stockpilling, as in line with International Political Economy concepts. China also tries to hold global market monopoly of REM and to increase a dependence among importer countries. Aside than that, Chinese Goverment focus and concern relate to environmental destruction due to the increasing of smuggling and illegal mining that have happened for several years. This environment problems are the main reason why the Chinese Government restrict it's REM export. As the implication of this policy, some importer countries, such as, United States, Japan amd European Union sued Chinese Government to WTO due to China's REM export restriction and monopoly.