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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2800(RSP))

On tackling China’s critical raw materials export restrictions

B-10-2025-0326

on behalf of The Left Group · Rapporteur: Martin Schirdewan

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 5 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This resolution addresses China's export restrictions on critical raw materials and the EU's response. It calls for easing trade tensions, rejecting decoupling, and re-evaluating EU raw materials strategy. It demands reduced EU consumption, a binding target to cut primary raw material demand by at least 10% by 2030, and prioritising circular economy and recycling. It insists on high standards for external sourcing, including due diligence, transparency, and support for producer countries' green transition.

Key points

  1. Calls for the EU and China to use the upcoming summit to ease trade tensions and revive multilateralism.
  2. Insists the EU must not follow US calls to confront China or decouple supply chains.
  3. Recalls that export restrictions can be legitimate for sustainable resource management and domestic processing.
  4. Rejects rivalry and bloc-building, and rejects current trade agreements as primary solution for securing raw materials.
  5. Highlights that EU trade agreements limit developing countries' policy space; insists new agreements support value addition and local processing.
  6. Calls for a new type of sustainable trade agreement with enforceable labour and environmental commitments.
  7. Emphasises that trade agreements should facilitate a global circular economy and secondary raw materials market.
  8. Calls for re-evaluating EU consumption patterns and proposes a binding target to reduce primary raw material demand by at least 10% by 2030.
  9. Demands investment in circular economy, research for substitution and recycling, and eco-design standards.
  10. Insists on reviewing waste exports and ensuring external sourcing adheres to high standards with mandatory due diligence.
  11. Emphasises respecting 'no-go zones' and enforcing regulations on conflict minerals and forced labour.
  12. Calls for transparency in partnerships, exclusion of companies with abuse records, and support for UN binding treaty on business and human rights.

Who is affected

  • EU and China: urged to ease tensions and cooperate on trade rules.
  • Developing countries: trade agreements should support their industrialisation and value addition.
  • EU businesses: must adhere to high standards and due diligence in raw materials sourcing.
  • Companies with human rights or environmental abuse history: excluded from strategic projects.

Figures and deadlines

  • at least 10 % by 2030: binding target to reduce EU demand for primary raw materials.