EU shortlists tungsten, rare earths for first stockpile to curb China reliance

The ​European Union has shortlisted tungsten, rare earths ​and gallium for its first joint ‌stockpile ​of critical minerals aimed at reducing its reliance on China, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The EU is ‌also holding talks with major ports including Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the region's biggest, to store the minerals, one of the three sources and a fourth source told Reuters. The move marks one ‌of the bloc's most concrete steps to insulate its economy from Beijing's production dominance ‌in critical minerals--vital to defence, semiconductors and the energy transition--and often used as leverage in trade disputes with the West.

Western allies, including the United States, are racing to build their own stockpiles after Beijing's export curbs sent shocks ⁠through ​the global economy. Two of ⁠the sources said magnesium would be on the priority list, while one said germanium and graphite were ⁠expected to make the final mix.

Most of the minerals under consideration, except magnesium, appear on NATO's list ​of 12 elements deemed critical to the defence industry. Beyond military hardware, the metals are ⁠essential to aircraft, cars, semiconductors in devices such as smartphones, and renewable energy infrastructure including wind turbines.

The European Commission ⁠announced ​the stockpile initiative in December. Ten EU countries are involved in the planning process in working groups led by Italy, France and Germany. France has made diversifying critical ⁠mineral supplies a priority of its G7 presidency, and the bloc is in parallel talks to ⁠set up a ⁠permanent secretariat so the work survives beyond rotating presidencies.

A spokesperson for the Port of Rotterdam did not immediately comment. A spokesperson for the ‌European Commission ‌declined to comment.

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