EU Launches Plan to Cut Reliance on Chinese Rare Earths Amid Export Curbs

The European Union is intensifying efforts to reduce its dependence on Chinese critical raw materials, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Saturday. The new initiative, called RESourceEU, aims to secure alternative supplies of rare earths vital for Europe’s clean energy, defense, and electric vehicle industries.
Von der Leyen said the EU would accelerate partnerships with resource-rich nations, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. The strategy also includes expanding recycling of critical materials and boosting domestic production and processing within Europe.
The plan mirrors the earlier REPowerEU initiative, which helped the bloc reduce its reliance on Russian energy following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “We will focus on joint purchasing, stockpiling, and investment in strategic projects across the EU,” von der Leyen stated at a conference in Berlin.
Her remarks follow China’s decision on October 9 to impose new export restrictions on rare earths and battery materials, a move that has raised concerns across Western economies. Von der Leyen warned that over 90% of Europe’s rare earth magnet imports come from China, posing a major threat to key sectors such as defense, automotive, and artificial intelligence.
She emphasized that while the EU seeks dialogue with Beijing, it is also prepared to take responsive measures if trade tensions persist.