Critical minerals: EU plans to join hands with US to counter China

The European Union will pitch the US on a critical minerals partnership to curb China's influence, looking to shape the Trump administration's push to strike global agreements this week.

The EU is prepared to sign a memorandum of understanding with the US to develop a "Strategic Partnership Roadmap" within three months, according to people familiar with the matter.

The partnership aims to jointly find ways to source critical minerals, which are needed for most modern technologies, without relying on China. Both the US and EU have become tethered to abundant, cheap Chinese minerals, giving Beijing leverage over their supply chains.


The proposal offers several ways to reduce this dependence, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

The memorandum suggests the EU and US explore joint critical-mineral projects and price support mechanisms. It also recommends ways to shield both markets from an oversupply of outside minerals and other forms of market manipulation. Meanwhile, the proposal says the two sides should build secure supply chains between each other.

Notably, the EU proposal also insists both sides respect each other's territorial integrity, the people added. The US-EU relationship nearly ruptured in recent weeks after President Donald Trump signaled plans to buy Greenland, a territory of EU-member Denmark.