<正>Ⅰ.INTRODUCTION The curtain of a high-profile WTO case over trade in rare earths was ultimately drawn down,when the Appellate Body,the ultimate judicial body of the WTO,released its report on August 7,2014.~1 The case originated four years ago when China decided to restrain its export volume of rare earths almost by half.~2 The sudden and steep drop in rare earths export was against a background of international economic transition in a mineral-hungry world.~3 China stated its policy change in rare earths export as to serve the purposes of environment