The United States and the European Union on Tuesday filed complaints to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over so-called Chinese restrictions on the export of key industrial raw materials.

The materials at issue include coke, bauxite, fluorspar, magnesium, silicon metal and zinc, according to the complaints sent to the Geneva-based world body.

The United States and the EU claim that China's export restrictions create unfair advantages for Chinese industries and distort world competition, thus violating WTO regulations.

According to the WTO's dispute settlement procedures, the three sides will have 60 days to try to solve their dispute through consultations.

If consultations fail, the United States and the EU could ask for a WTO panel to investigate and rule on this dispute.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2009)