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Tackling China's critical raw materials export restrictions

TA-10-2025-0166 · P10_TA(2025)0166 · PE774.020

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 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.

Parliament condemns China's rare earth export restrictions as unjustified coercion and urges China to lift them. It calls for accelerating the Critical Raw Materials Act, boosting EU mining, processing, recycling, and strategic stockpiling, and securing funding. It also urges stronger partnerships and coordination with allies to diversify supply and reduce dependence on China.

Key points

  1. Strongly condemns China's rare earth export restrictions, which have disrupted supply chains for automotive, defence, semiconductor, green tech, and healthcare sectors.
  2. Believes China is using restrictions to force concessions; rejects any concessions and stresses firm EU stance.
  3. Urges raising concerns at the EU-China summit and calls for multilateral rules, with unilateral controls limited to national security needs.
  4. Urges China to fully lift restrictions and notes the 'green lanes' proposal for European companies.
  5. Calls for enhancing EU strategic leverage by identifying advantages and limiting market access for high-risk Chinese vendors.
  6. Considers China's measures an unjustified weaponisation of supply lines, making it an untrustworthy source.
  7. Concerned about data disclosure requirements for export permits and risks of technology leaks; asks Commission and Member States to assess and mitigate.
  8. Urges accelerating CRMA implementation, highlights the European Raw Materials Board and first 60 strategic projects.
  9. Regrets lack of dedicated EU budget for CRMA; urges investment and a budget line in the next multiannual financial framework.
  10. Calls for domestic mining, processing, recycling, and urban mining; asks for measures to improve collection and retention of REEs.
  11. Calls for financial support like price floors and stockpiling; asks Member States to require risk-preparedness from large companies.
  12. Calls for assessing minimum strategic stocks of REEs and for stronger partnerships, including binding agreements and coordination with allies.

Who is affected

  • China: urged to lift export restrictions and follow up on 'green lanes'.
  • EU and Member States: accelerate CRMA implementation, secure funding, and assess strategic stocks.
  • Large companies in strategic sectors: may be required to carry out risk-preparedness and stockpiling.
  • European industries (automotive, defence, etc.): affected by supply disruptions; benefit from diversification efforts.

Figures and deadlines

  • Export volumes decreased by as much as 80 %.
  • China controls around 75 % of mining output and 85 % of processing capacity.
  • EU covers 98 % of permanent magnet demand and 92 % of NdFeB magnet demand with imports from China.
  • CRMA aims to cover 25 % of the Union's SRM needs through recycling by 2030.
  • 17 assembly lines experienced temporary shutdowns in May 2025.