Europe Turns to Uzbekistan to Reduce Reliance on China for Critical Minerals
The European Union is preparing a new plan to cut its dependence on China for critical raw materials essential to key industries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the initiative, called RESourceEU, on October 25 during a conference in Berlin.
Von der Leyen criticized China’s recent restrictions on the export of rare earth elements and battery materials, calling them a threat to Europe’s industrial stability. She said the EU will seek to secure alternative supply chains through stronger partnerships with countries including Australia, Canada, Chile, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.
The new strategy aims to ensure access to critical minerals vital for Europe’s clean energy transition, defense sector, and electric vehicle production. In addition to new partnerships, the EU also plans to increase recycling and reuse of materials already in circulation.
«The goal is to ensure short-, medium-, and long-term access to alternative sources of critical raw materials for European industry,» von der Leyen said. She added that the approach will resemble the REPowerEU plan introduced in 2022 to reduce the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy.
China introduced export restrictions on October 9, a move widely seen as a response to Western trade tariffs. According to von der Leyen, the measures are affecting Europe’s automotive, defense, aerospace, and technology sectors, which depend on Chinese supplies for over 90% of rare earth magnets.
