EU Officials Urge Collective Action After Beijing Tightens Controls
The European Union is drawing up a coordinated reply following China’s decision to broaden export restrictions on rare-earth minerals essential to the bloc’s manufacturing and energy industries. The new measures, laid out in Beijing’s Announcement No. 61, extend licensing requirements to additional materials including europium, erbium, thulium, holmium, and ytterbium. After consultations on 14 October 2025, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said the Union would join forces with G7 allies to protect strategic supply chains and mitigate the risk of further disruption caused by the policy shift.
China’s Dominance Raises Concerns Over Industrial Dependence
China currently controls the majority of the world’s rare-earth processing capacity, leaving European producers reliant on Chinese exports for technologies ranging from renewable power systems to advanced defence components. The revised export framework, scheduled to take effect on 1 December 2025, could tighten supplies and increase costs for industries tied to the green transition. Economists warn that this dependency highlights the need for Europe to accelerate investment in recycling infrastructure, domestic extraction projects, and partnerships with alternative suppliers in Africa and northern Europe.
Brussels Focuses on Diplomacy Before Considering Countermeasures
Rather than opting for swift retaliation, EU leaders are pursuing a diplomatic and legal course aimed at building consensus with global partners. Officials are evaluating potential actions through the World Trade Organization and coordinating with Washington, Tokyo, and Ottawa to present a united front. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s foreign minister and current chair of the EU Council presidency, called the move “a decisive test of Europe’s ability to act collectively in defence of its economic interests.” A joint EU plan outlining both short-term supply safeguards and long-term diversification measures is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.
