Ministers from the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and New Zealand will gather in Washington this week to discuss the creation of a closer strategic alliance on critical minerals, as governments intensify efforts to reduce dependence on China-dominated supply chains.
The meeting, convened by United States Department of State and led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will also include around 20 countries such as G7 members, India, South Korea, Mexico and potentially Argentina. It marks the second such summit in less than a month and is widely seen as part of a broader attempt to repair strained transatlantic relations and coordinate non-China sourcing strategies for minerals essential to energy transition, defence and advanced manufacturing.
Australia underscored the urgency of the talks last week by announcing plans to establish a A$1.2 billion strategic reserve of critical minerals considered vulnerable to supply disruption from China. Canberra’s move follows Beijing’s decision last April to restrict rare earth exports in response to trade measures introduced under US President Donald Trump.
A key issue on the Washington agenda will be whether the United States should guarantee minimum prices for critical minerals and rare earths to support investment in alternative supply chains. Reports this week that Washington may have ruled out such guarantees triggered a sell-off in Australian mining stocks, highlighting the sensitivity of the sector to policy signals. Australia has positioned itself as a major alternative supplier to China and plans to stockpile minerals such as antimony and gallium regardless of US pricing decisions.
“Strengthening critical mineral supply chains with international partners is vital for the US economy, national security, technological leadership, and a resilient energy future,” the State Department said ahead of the summit.
The European Union is expected to use the meeting to push for progress on broader trade irritants, including US tariffs on steel derivatives. EU officials argue that new levies on products containing steel, from bicycles to wind turbines, undermine trust following a tariff deal agreed last year. Brussels hopes the talks could pave the way for a joint statement that would signal a shift toward closer coordination with Washington on de-risking from China rather than recurring trade disputes.
The European Commission has repeatedly warned that Europe remains highly exposed to Chinese supply chains, particularly for rare earth permanent magnets. According to Commission officials, the EU consumes around 20,000 tonnes of permanent magnets annually, with roughly 17,000–18,000 tonnes sourced from China and only about 1,000 tonnes produced domestically.
Japan, which has long maintained strategic mineral stockpiles to guard against supply disruptions, is often cited by policymakers as a model for resilience. European and UK officials say closer alignment with partners such as Japan and Australia will be essential if Western economies are to secure stable access to minerals critical for everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to fighter jets and renewable energy systems.
