International aspects
It is essential for the EU that international raw materials markets operate in a free and transparent way. However, many countries are increasingly applying measures - such as export taxes, import subsidies, price-fixing, and restrictive investment rules - which distort these markets. The net effect of these distortions is that the manufacturing industry, in developed, emerging and developing countries, suffers when access is distorted in this way.
As a response to these priority trade policy issues, the EU’s trade strategy has been threefold:
1. propose trade disciplines on export restrictions in bilateral and multilateral negotiations,
2. tackle trade barriers through dialogue but also other tools including WTO dispute settlements and the Market Access Partnerships and
3. raise awareness and support awareness-raising in international fora such as the G8, G20, OECD and UNCTAD
A first activity report 
outlining the main results achieved to 2009 was published in early 2010.
The EU also promotes sustainable access to raw materials in its development policy. Within the Africa/EU Joint Strategy 2011-2013 a bilateral cooperation has been launched on raw materials, covering issues related to governance, investments and geological knowledge. Moreover, in the area of transparency and financial payments in the mining sector, the EU will enhance its support for the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) and share best practice with international organisations such as the World Bank and OECD. Finally, building on experiences like the Kimberley Process, the EU will also examine ways to improve transparency throughout the mineral supply chain and, in co-ordination with key trade partners, tackle the use of extractive industry revenues to fund wars or conflicts.
The Commission proposed actions for trade and development as outlined in the Raw Materials Initiative strategy document [124 KB] 
published on 2 February 2011.
