Germany and Canada have pledged to intensify cooperation on securing supply chains for critical minerals vital to clean energy and defense technologies.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the initiative during talks in Berlin on Tuesday, unveiling a joint declaration of intent that commits the two nations to “innovate, invest, and collaborate through rules-based trade” while catalyzing private capital to fund new mining and processing projects.
Carney emphasized Canada’s readiness to become a reliable supplier of key minerals such as nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths, long dominated by Russia and China.
“For too long, Canada’s vast reserves have been underdeveloped. Canada is ready to be a reliable supplier for our allies — particularly Germany as Europe’s largest economy and our largest trading partner in the EU,” he said.
Building Resilient Supply Chains
The partnership builds on earlier agreements between the two allies and comes amid surging global demand for minerals critical to electric vehicles, battery storage, renewable energy, and advanced defense technologies. The International Energy Agency has warned that increasing supply concentration in a handful of countries, coupled with new export restrictions, has made diversification a top priority for governments.
At a joint press conference, Carney noted “a huge range of immediate opportunities” in critical minerals, alongside medium-term prospects in hydrogen and liquefied natural gas. He also highlighted major investments in Canadian port infrastructure — including Montreal and Churchill, Manitoba — to expand metals and minerals exports to Europe.
Industry Agreements Announced
Carney’s office detailed three commercial agreements between Canadian and German companies:
- Troilus Gold Corp. signed a supply agreement with Aurubis AG, under which the Hamburg-based metals producer will purchase a significant portion of Troilus’ future copper concentrate output.
- Torngat Metals Ltd. entered into a memorandum of understanding with Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG for the long-term supply of separated rare-earth oxides.
- Rock Tech Lithium Inc. and Enertrag SE signed an MOU to connect Rock Tech’s lithium conversion plant in Guben, Germany, to Enertrag’s solar and offshore wind farms.
Strategic Industry Engagement
Following his meeting with Merz, Carney held talks with leading German executives on investment and supply chain security. Attendees included Markus Schaefer, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Purchasing at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, underscoring the strategic importance of critical minerals to Europe’s automotive and industrial sectors.
Both governments framed the partnership as a cornerstone for energy security, climate goals, and industrial resilience, marking a new phase in transatlantic cooperation on resources that will define the global economy in the decades ahead.
