<p>"Secretary Clinton sought clarification on the Chinese government's policy, on the export of rare earth minerals and received assurances," a US official told reporters on condition of anonymity, after Clinton's meeting with Yang.<br /><br />The meeting took place in Hanoi, on the sidelines of the 16-nation East Asia Summit, which the United States is attending for the first time, along with Russia.<br /><br />In Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that the United States was checking to see whether China was cutting off rare earths exports to US companies but had not reached a conclusion yet.<br /><br />China recently denied a report in The New York Times that it had halted some rare earth shipments to the United States in response to a US probe into alleged Chinese subsidies for its green technology sector.<br /><br />Rare earths, a group of 17 elements, are used in high-tech products, ranging from flat-screen televisions to lasers and hybrid cars, and China controls more than 95 percent, of the global market.<br /><br />China has cut rare earth exports by five to 10 percent a year since 2006 as demand and prices soar.<br /><br />During talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara in Hawaii on Wednesday, Clinton welcomed remarks from Beijing that China will not use its near-global monopoly on the rare earths trade as a "bargaining tool."<br /><br />However, she said it was important to diversify sources and not rely solely on China.</p>
<p>"Secretary Clinton sought clarification on the Chinese government's policy, on the export of rare earth minerals and received assurances," a US official told reporters on condition of anonymity, after Clinton's meeting with Yang.<br /><br />The meeting took place in Hanoi, on the sidelines of the 16-nation East Asia Summit, which the United States is attending for the first time, along with Russia.<br /><br />In Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that the United States was checking to see whether China was cutting off rare earths exports to US companies but had not reached a conclusion yet.<br /><br />China recently denied a report in The New York Times that it had halted some rare earth shipments to the United States in response to a US probe into alleged Chinese subsidies for its green technology sector.<br /><br />Rare earths, a group of 17 elements, are used in high-tech products, ranging from flat-screen televisions to lasers and hybrid cars, and China controls more than 95 percent, of the global market.<br /><br />China has cut rare earth exports by five to 10 percent a year since 2006 as demand and prices soar.<br /><br />During talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara in Hawaii on Wednesday, Clinton welcomed remarks from Beijing that China will not use its near-global monopoly on the rare earths trade as a "bargaining tool."<br /><br />However, she said it was important to diversify sources and not rely solely on China.</p>