China is planning to expand air pollution curbs in Beijing and nearby provinces to more cities that are crucial for the production of coal, steel and transport fuel. The move comes as President Xi Jinping tries to ensure blue skies for the Winter Olympics to be held in and around the Chinese capital in February, and are on top of national efforts to reduce carbon emissions and control power usage to improve efficiency and avoid crunches. The combined policies have roiled commodity markets and, taken together, reinforce the idea that the government is willing to take a short-term hit to ...
