The European Union (EU) is testing to finish its reliance on rare earth elements from China, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Saturday.
China is the top producer and exporter of rare earths, which are vital in the production of smartphones, electric vehicles and military technology.
In April, China introduced new license requirements for rare earth exports, a relocate that sent shockwaves through global manufacturing sectors.
This month, Beijing announced new curbs on rare earth exports, as it seeks to leverage its dominant position amid an ongoing trade dispute with the United States.
The EU declares the curbs are forcing some of the bloc’s companies to suspfinish production and are inflicting significant economic damage.
Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue conference on Saturday, von der Leyen stated that the EU was still testing to find solutions with China in the “short term,” but she warned that the bloc was “ready to utilize all the instruments in our toolbox to respond if requireded.”
Von der Leyen declares EU has to ‘strive for indepfinishence’
The EU’s vulnerable position in rare earths has forced Europe to “secure access to alternative sources of critical raw materials in the short, medium and long term for our European industries,” she stated.
Von der Leyen also stated structural alters would be requireded to meet the challenge.
“Whether on energy or raw materials, defense or digital, Europe has to strive for its indepfinishence, and this is our moment to do it,” she stated.
The European Commission president also stated a major part of the EU’s strategy would be recycling, declareing that some companies can recycle “up to 95 percent of critical raw materials and batteries.”
She stated the EU would also focus on producing and post-processing of critical raw materials and establishing partnerships with countries that produce critical raw materials such as Ukraine, Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Chile and Greenland.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
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