joining us on the phone is doug palmer. >> you're welcome, glad to be here. >> in looking at this wto dispute, it's not only the u.s. but japan and the european union so is there significance that we're not alone in making this claim against the chinese government? >> well, yeah, i think so. i mean, i think it gives force to the argument when you have three major economies like the european union, japan and the united states all saying that china is not abiding by its commitments and they have shared interest in a successful outcome of this case since their industries are dependent on access to these rare earth and currently the biggest source of supply is in china. >> so what the core issue, where is the dispute? >> the dispute is over export restrictions that china has impose on these rare earth minerals that are used in variety of products. clean-energy products. advanced technology products. like iphones and solar panels and electric cars. advanced batteries for electric cars. so, you know, those are kind of seen as the jobs as the future and everybody's keen to make sure that the

we'll talk more about this with doug palmer. he's following the story for reuters in washington, d.c. he'll join us in the ekt next half hour. let's turn our attention to capitol hill. the top democrat and republican sparring today over whether judges or a house-passed jobs bill should be next on the agenda following the expected passage of a new transportation bill. the standoff between harry read, the senate democratic leader. he allowed a swift vote on the jobs act in exchange for republicans agreeing to drop their objections to the judicial nominees. republicans accusing senator reid of holding the jobs bill hostage until they relent on some of those would-be judges. the exchange back and forth. let's take you do the senate floor with harry reid and mitch mcconnell. >> it's a question of priorities. we do agree we ought to pass this jobs bill. certainly if it were called up, it would be open for amendment and the majority leader could offer the xm bank amendment if he chose and other senators could as well. it's a question o