export

Huge Chinese exports kept rare-earth prices low, making it difficult for Western companies to raise money to exploit new mines.

This reflected concerns from countries including China that trade measures -- like taxes on carbon-intensive goods -- could erode export revenues or throw up barriers to green technology sales.

Venture Global is one of several U.S. companies ramping up gas exports, and is anticipating higher demand from countries switching from coal to gas, as well as rising global electricity use.

The declaration also supported "increased exploration of critical minerals, particularly in developing countries" for which they said the resource should be a driver of development and value-addition "rather than just raw material exports".

Some tariffs remain on minor exports such as honey and shoes.