Image copyright AFP Image caption China is the largest producer of rare earth elements in the world

China's caps on exports of rare earth elements break global trade rules, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled.

Rare earths are used in gadgets such as DVDs and mobile phones, and China accounts for more than 90% of their global production.

But it has put limits on their exports, which it says are aimed at reducing pollution and conserving resources.

However, the organisation said the limits helped "secure preferential use" of the elements for domestic firms.

In its ruling, the WTO said: "The overall effect of the foreign and domestic restrictions is to encourage domestic extraction and secure preferential use of those materials by Chinese manufacturers".

"Accordingly, the panel concluded that China's trading rights restrictions breach its WTO obligations."

'Perfectly consistent'

The demand for rare earth elements has jumped in recent years, triggered by growth in the number of high-tech gadgets being produced.

Rare earths - key facts Image copyright Science Photo Library The first rare-earth element was discovered by Finnish chemist Johan Gadolin in 1792 after receiving a heavy mineral from Swedish village of Ytterby

Subsequent rare-earth elements were identified and isolated over a period of about 150 years

The core group of 15 rare earths are known as lanthanides

These have an atomic number from 57 to 71 and are grouped together in the periodic table

Scandium and yttrium - making the total number 17 - are also considered rare earths as they exhibit similar chemical properties to lanthanides

The final one to be discovered, in 1945, was the radioactive promethium, which is the rarest

They have a wide range of uses such as in camera and telescope lenses, catalytic converters, refining crude oil, magnets and X-ray scanners

These elements have unique magnetic and optical properties making them a crucial part of almost all modern-day equipment.

Over the past decade the demand for rare earths has increased three-fold to nearly 125,000 metric tons a year.

According to some estimates, the figure could cross 200,000 tons this year.

However, there have been concerns that mining and processing these elements generates toxic waste and impacts the environment.

As a result, many countries that have rare earth resources have imposed restrictions on their mining, making China the biggest global supplier.

Over the past few years Beijing also imposed its own set of limits on the sector, citing similar concerns.

In a response to the WTO ruling, China's trade ministry said: "The Chinese government has been reinforcing and improving its comprehensive regulation on high-polluting, high-energy-consuming and resource-consuming products in recent years".

"China believes that these regulatory measures are perfectly consistent with the objective of sustainable development promoted by the WTO."

However, China's restrictions saw prices of these elements surge, prompting the US, European Union and Japan to lodge a complaint with the WTO.

After the ruling, Michael Forman, US Trade Representative, said: "China's decision to promote its own industry and discriminate against US companies has caused US manufacturers to pay as much as three times more than what their Chinese competitors pay for the exact same rare earths."

Beijing, which has 60 days to appeal against the ruling, said it was assessing the report.