Following the recent EU-China summit, several German politicians are raising concerns regarding potential over-reliance on China for critical raw materials.
Franziska Brantner, leader of the Green Party, cautioned in an interview with the “Rheinische Post” newspaper, emphasizing the need to avoid naiveté regarding China’s control over rare earth elements. The former parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs highlighted that Beijing is deliberately leveraging its influence over global supply chains to advance its own interests, including through control of vital resources. She warned that a lack of preparedness in this area could pose significant risks to domestic industries.
Brantner advocated for a unified European response, calling for the restoration of strategic autonomy, diversification of supply chains and the development of European capabilities for recycling and processing rare earth elements and other crucial materials. She stressed that a fair partnership with China is only possible if international rules are adhered to, ensuring relationships are based on parity rather than coercion. To ensure Europe’s capacity for action, she urged Brussels to receive strong support from Berlin, promoting a policy grounded in clarity, resilience and competitiveness.
Norbert Röttgen, a foreign policy expert from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), echoed these sentiments, observing that China simultaneously exports goods to Europe at subsidized rates while also utilizing economic power to achieve foreign policy objectives. He cautioned that Europe must anticipate the potential for dependencies on raw materials, particularly rare earth elements, to be exploited in conflict scenarios. To mitigate this pressure from China, Röttgen emphasized the systematic reduction of such dependencies. He acknowledged initial steps taken by the European Commission and underscored that reducing dependencies will require prioritizing the exploration and development of new deposits, primarily within Europe.