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Japan, EU to explore joint rare earths procurement, Nikkei reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 17, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Summary
Japan and the EU plan to jointly procure rare earths to lessen reliance on China, launching a new dialogue at the upcoming summit.
Japan, EU to explore joint rare earths procurement, Nikkei reports
(Reuters) -Japan and the European Union will consider joint public-private partnerships as they look to reduce their reliance on China in areas such as the procurement of rare earths, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday.
As China, the dominant supplier of rare earths, tightens export controls, global manufacturers are concerned that Beijing's decision to curb exports of rare-earth alloys, mixtures and magnets could slow production and disrupt supply chains.
Japan and the EU will launch a new "economic two-plus-two" dialogue to bring together their foreign and economy ministers, expected to be announced at the Japan-EU leaders' summit scheduled for July 23, according to the report.
The framework will seek to further deepen Japan-EU relations, it said, adding that the parties agreed to the new dialogue at the working level and will use the initiative to jointly develop supply chains for critical minerals such as rare earths.
(Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
Key Takeaways
- •Japan and EU to reduce reliance on China for rare earths.
- •New economic dialogue to be launched at Japan-EU summit.
- •China's export controls raise global supply chain concerns.
- •Public-private partnerships to develop critical mineral supply.
- •Initiative aims to deepen Japan-EU economic relations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Japan, EU to explore joint rare earths procurement, Nikkei reports
1What are Japan and the EU planning regarding rare earths?
Japan and the European Union will consider joint public-private partnerships to reduce their reliance on China for rare earths procurement.
2Why are global manufacturers concerned about rare earths?
Global manufacturers are worried that China's tightening export controls on rare-earth alloys and magnets could disrupt their supply chains.
3What new initiative will Japan and the EU launch?
Japan and the EU will launch a new 'economic two-plus-two' dialogue to enhance cooperation between their foreign and economy ministers.
4What is the goal of the new dialogue between Japan and the EU?
The dialogue aims to deepen Japan-EU relations and develop joint supply chains for rare earths.
