Von der Leyen touts new plan to break reliance on China critical minerals

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🗞️ Driving the news: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a forthcoming "RESourceEU" plan aimed at ending the EU’s dependency on China for critical raw materials
• Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue, she warned of a growing trend in which global interdependencies, particularly in strategic resources, are being "leveraged and weaponized" — a reference to China’s recent tightening of export controls on rare earth elements and key inputs vital for green and digital technologies

🔭 The context: China currently dominates nearly 70% of global rare earths production and controls almost all refining capacity
• These minerals are indispensable for clean energy, defense, and high-tech industries
• The EU has previously relied on Russia for fossil fuels—a dependency it has since sought to dismantle through the €225 billion REPowerEU strategy
• RESourceEU is modeled on that precedent, indicating a shift toward more aggressive industrial and trade policy tools
• Discussions between Brussels and Beijing on critical materials are scheduled for next week

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Securing critical minerals is essential for the EU’s green transition, as they are key components in electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage
• The over-reliance on a single supplier like China not only creates geopolitical vulnerabilities but also slows progress on decarbonisation
• RESourceEU’s emphasis on circular economy practices and international partnerships offers a pathway toward more sustainable, resilient supply chains critical for climate action and industrial decarbonisation

⏭️ What's next: Details of the RESourceEU plan are expected in the coming weeks, likely including new investment mechanisms, circular economy incentives, and supply agreements with countries such as Australia, Canada, Ukraine, and Chile
• The Commission may also invoke the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument if diplomatic efforts with China stall
• A coordinated response from member states will be crucial, particularly as France pushes for stronger trade defenses and others remain more cautious.

💬 One quote: “Europe cannot do things the same way anymore. We learned this lesson painfully with energy; we will not repeat it with critical materials.” – Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

📈 One stat: China controls nearly 70% of global rare earths production and dominates nearly 100% of global refining capacity

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