Helium export policy will be flexible as conditions evolve, ministry says

China will adjust its helium export management policy as needed in response to changes in domestic and international supply and demand, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

The remarks came after Beijing imposed a temporary ban on helium exports last Friday, a measure jointly announced by the ministry and the General Administration of Customs.

He Yadong, a spokesman for the ministry, told a news conference in Beijing that China is a major importer of helium and that the temporary export ban was introduced to safeguard domestic supplies.

The ban, which took effect upon announcement, was imposed under relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Law and is consistent with World Trade Organization rules, He said.

The ministry will adjust the policy as needed as helium supply and demand conditions at home and abroad evolve, He added.