G7 Seeks to Reduce Reliance on China for Critical Minerals

The G7 countries are seeking to strengthen their economic independence and reduce their reliance on China for critical minerals essential to the energy, defense and technology sectors.

At the summit in France, Paris is pushing for a joint statement supporting investment in supply chains outside China and measures to protect Western investors from dumping and economic retaliation.

The discussions follow Chinese restrictions on rare-earth exports in 2025, which exposed the vulnerability of Western supply chains and disrupted industries dependent on permanent magnets and other critical materials.

Leaders are also addressing wider imbalances in global trade. European officials have highlighted China’s growing trade surplus and increasingly dominant position in strategic sectors.

The summit agenda also includes artificial intelligence, with leaders expected to discuss its opportunities and risks, including online safety. Executives from OpenAI and Anthropic are among the technology leaders attending the talks.

(reuters, mja)