Tensions remain high as China and EU prepare Brussels meeting on rare earths

Published on 24/10/2025 - 18:15 GMT+2

A planned gathering betwixt EU Trade Commissioner Maros Šefčovič and his Chinese counterpart was cancelled connected Friday, arsenic nan European Commission opted for expert-level talks to defuse tensions complete Beijing's rare-earth export controls, which EU leaders are calling economical coercion.

The get-together will beryllium held some online and successful personification successful Brussels, arsenic nan Commission has been nether unit since Thursday nighttime from nan 27 personnel states, who person called connected it to activity connected a beardown consequence to nan unfair waste and acquisition practices of world partners — first and foremost, China.

The announcement comes correct aft a travel to Beijing by German overseas curate Johann Wadephul was besides cancelled, arsenic a spokesperson for his ministry said connected Friday, without specifying whether it was China aliases Germany that called disconnected nan trip.

Beijing is accused by its European counterparts of weaponising uncommon world exports, for which it has imposed a Kafkaesque licensing authorities since 9 October.

These minerals are cardinal for EU industries, specified arsenic nan automotive, defence, Greentech and integer sectors.

“It is economical coercion,” French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday aft a European summit, but without specifically recommending nan usage of what is considered a waste and acquisition defence “nuclear option,” nan “Anti-Coercion Instrument”.

In consequence to Chinese waste and acquisition threats, Europeans adopted successful 2023 a toolkit to antagonistic third-country authorities unit done measures specified arsenic tariffs aliases restrictions connected entree to nationalist procurement, licenses, aliases intelligence spot rights.

To trigger it, a qualified mostly of nan 27 personnel states is required, which is not guaranteed fixed their differing views.

Pressure from nan EU's 27 members

“We talked astir nan anti-coercion Instrument, but we did not make immoderate decision,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said aft nan summit.

Not each personnel states take sides nan aforesaid interests vis-à-vis nan Asian giant, fixed their economical ties pinch Beijing.

Under unit from France, however, nan 27 leaders agreed successful their conclusions of nan EU acme connected nan request for nan Commission “to make effective usage of each EU economical instruments” to deter aliases antagonistic outer threats.

Because nan China rumor continues to turn for nan EU, Macron pointed to “a Chinese system that invests heavily, pursuing a logic of dumping.”

Dumping allows China to waste its products cheaply connected nan European marketplace than connected its home one.

Europeans, peculiarly successful nan steel sector, are experiencing this arsenic they contend pinch China’s accumulation surplus.

Facing US tariffs, Beijing besides redirect its exports toward nan European market, Macron said, putting further unit connected nan EU.

“Investigations request to beryllium launched to look into this, and a overmuch much systematic attack to economical information is required,” nan French president added.