On tackling China’s critical raw materials export restrictions
B-10-2025-0332
on behalf of the S&D Group · Rapporteur: Kathleen Van Brempt
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Parliament expresses deep concern about China's export restrictions on rare earth materials and magnets, which it calls unjustified and damaging to European industries and the green and digital transitions.¶ It calls on China to lift the restrictions and urges the Commission and member states to take a firm stance and seek a structural solution, including at the upcoming EU-China summit.¶ The resolution urges the Commission to reduce EU dependence on China for critical raw materials through diversification, domestic production, recycling, and strategic partnerships.¶¶¶ It also stresses the need for better resource efficiency and export monitoring of secondary raw materials, and welcomes the G7 critical minerals action plan.¶¶
Key points
- Criticises China's export restrictions on rare earth materials and magnets, which are crucial for European automotive, renewable energy, and defence industries.¶
- Notes that the EU is bearing economic consequences of a trade dispute it did not start and should not become collateral damage.¶
- Argues that China's export restrictions violate WTO conservation rules and are designed for industrial policy goals, not conservation.¶
- Calls on China to lift restrictions and urges the Commission and member states to engage with Chinese authorities for a structural solution, including at the EU-China summit on 24-25 July 2025.¶
- Rejects any use of restrictions to coerce concessions on other disputes, such as anti-dumping duties on battery electric vehicles.¶
- Concerned about an unfair trade-off between export restrictions and access to European technological know-how, undermining competitiveness and strategic autonomy.¶
- Urges the Commission to mitigate risks of overdependence on China for critical rare earth elements, noting dependence remains high despite the Critical Raw Materials Act.¶
- Underlines the need for a strategy for long-term supply security through diversification, domestic production, and circular economy with robust recycling.¶
- Calls on the Commission to use the Clean Industrial Deal to build partnerships with resource-rich countries and strengthen domestic capabilities.¶
- Emphasises the need for the upcoming circular economy act to improve resource efficiency, define strategic secondary raw materials for export monitoring, and enforce the Waste Shipment Regulation.¶
- Welcomes the critical minerals action plan agreed at the G7 leaders' summit in June 2025.¶
Who is affected
- European industries such as automotive manufacturing, renewable energy, and defence that rely on rare earth materials.¶
- Chinese authorities, who are called on to lift export restrictions and face EU engagement.¶
- The Commission and member states, urged to take a firm stance and implement strategies for supply security.¶¶