US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Allies Hold Talks on Strategic Critical Minerals Alliance

Ministers from around 20 countries, including the US, EU, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Korea, will meet in Washington this week to discuss forming a strategic alliance on critical minerals and rare earths. The talks are aimed at strengthening supply chains outside China for materials that are essential to clean energy, defence, electronics and advanced manufacturing.
The meeting brings together G7 members — the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada — alongside key partners to coordinate investment, stockpiling and long-term supply security for critical minerals that have become increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions.
One area of discussion is whether the US should support minimum pricing mechanisms for critical minerals to encourage non-China production. However, Washington has shown reluctance to commit to guaranteed prices, creating uncertainty among some producer nations.
Australia has recently announced plans to establish a A$1.2 billion strategic reserve of minerals such as antimony and gallium, citing risks of supply disruption. Japan and Canada have already taken steps in recent years to strengthen supply resilience through strategic reserves and diversified sourcing.
Officials attending the summit hope to accelerate the development of alternative supply chains through closer cooperation, investment incentives and long-term agreements. European officials see the talks as a key step toward deeper coordination among allies to reduce economic reliance on China.
Critical minerals and rare earths are vital inputs for technologies ranging from electric vehicles and wind turbines to smartphones and military equipment. Europe remains heavily dependent on China, particularly for permanent magnets used in advanced manufacturing.
If successful, the talks are expected to result in a joint statement outlining shared commitments and next steps toward building a more secure and diversified critical minerals supply network.