EU to discuss rare earth minerals with Chinese delegation in Brussels
The European Commission is hosting a high-level Chinese delegation in Brussels this week to discuss China’s export restrictions on rare earth materials. According to a Commission spokesperson, initial talks via video conference took place on Monday to lay the groundwork ahead of the in-person discussions.
"A high-level Chinese technical delegation will arrive in Brussels on Thursday to discuss these issues," the spokesperson said. "We are taking these steps because we believe China should behave as a responsible partner."
The EU has been pressing Beijing for several weeks to ease restrictions on its exports of rare earth minerals, which are essential for producing cars, semiconductors and military equipment. China dominates the global supply chain of these minerals, which makes other countries vulnerable to supply disruptions.
European Council president Antonio Costa raised the issue with Chinese premier Li Qiang on Monday during a meeting at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia. “I urged him to restore smooth, reliable and predictable supply chains as soon as possible,” Costa said after the talks.
The diplomatic push comes as Brussels prepares a broader strategy to reduce its dependence on Chinese raw materials. Over the weekend in Berlin, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for a new initiative, RESourceEU, to be unveiled by the end of the year.
Modelled on the REPowerEU plan that aimed to end the EU’s reliance on Russian energy, RESourceEU is intended to diversify the bloc’s sources of rare earths and other critical minerals. The proposal will include measures to expand recycling of materials, build up strategic reserves, coordinate common European purchases and invest in mining and processing capacity.
These are long-term investments, however. In the short term, negotiating with China is the only way to maintain Europe's access to rare earth minerals.
China's Foreign minister Wang Yi and European Council president Antonio Costa at a meeting in Brussels in July © PHOTO FRANCOIS WALSCHAERTS / AFP
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