Indeed, for Pyongyang to benefit from an export-oriented policy, it would have to follow international standards and be on good terms with Washington.

CNN: Kim Jong Il's New Direction

China is allowing more companies to export rare earth after they met new environmental standards, but a decline in exports of the minerals suggests policy restrictions haven't kept pace with how swiftly demand has soured.

WSJ: What's News

In an internal document seen by the BBC, the EU said it was confident that two mines in the area now meet international standards and it wants diamonds from those areas to be immediately approved for export, which would partially lift a trade ban dating back to 2009.

BBC: Marange diamond field: Zimbabwe torture camp discovered

Chinese companies have a great potential to export to countries like Kenya and Tanzania where the per capita incomes, operating conditions and emission standards are closer to those in China than they are to those in more developed countries.

FORBES: China and Africa

However, these local standards such as TD-SCDMA and CMMB have yet to become globally relevant and there is little export market.

FORBES: The China Paradox, Part 2: The Trouble With Going Global