Japan and the European Union are set to deepen cooperation on rare earths procurement through joint public-private partnerships, aiming to reduce their dependence on China, the world’s dominant supplier, according to a report by the Nikkei.
The initiative comes as China tightens export controls on rare earth alloys, mixtures, and magnets, sparking fears of supply chain disruptions across industries reliant on these critical minerals—including defense, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics.
New “Economic Two-Plus-Two” Dialogue to Launch
The two sides are expected to announce a new “economic two-plus-two” dialogue—bringing together foreign and economy ministers—during the Japan-EU leaders’ summit on July 23. The dialogue will focus on:
- Joint development of rare earth and critical mineral supply chains
- Regulatory simplification within the EU to ease Japanese participation in European strategic projects
- Expanding industrial cooperation through a structured framework involving key EU leadership, including Stephane Séjourné, European Commission Executive VP for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy
Global Shift in Rare Earth Strategies
The Japan-EU initiative adds to a growing list of global efforts to diversify rare earth supply chains:
- The U.S. Department of Defense recently signed a multibillion-dollar deal with MP Materials, becoming its largest shareholder to increase domestic production.
- India is in talks with Chile and Peru to secure access to critical minerals as part of broader free trade negotiations.
This developing alignment underscores a geostrategic shift as major economies respond to China’s leverage in the global rare earths market.
