EU Pushes Rare Earth Mineral Partnership With US To Cut China Reliance

The European Union and the United States are planning to form a critical-minerals partnership to reduce reliance on China. This strategic partnership aims to create a roadmap within three months to secure essential minerals for modern technologies. The plan involves joint mining and processing projects, price supports, and safeguards against market manipulation. The draft agreement emphasizes respect for territorial integrity, important given past tensions. This initiative arises from growing concerns after China's export controls on rare earths. The US pushes for pricing mechanisms to protect Western producers, while the EU seeks a unified approach. The proposal aligns with US interests in stockpiling minerals, especially following Trump's stockpile plan. It focuses on strengthening supply chains, cutting dependencies, and boosting resilience to disruptions. The partnership also includes mutual exemptions, expanded research, and information sharing to promote transparency and coordination. The Trump administration is also launching Project Vault, a $12 billion initiative to build a strategic mineral stockpile.