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China's key role in critical mineral value chains

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China today holds a dominant position in critical mineral value chains, from extraction to processing and downstream technologies. Built on decades of industrial policy, this supremacy gives Beijing significant leverage over global supply security, particularly for the European Union.

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Vue aérienne d'une machine excavatrice dans une carrière pour l'extraction de métaux rares
Aerial view of an excavator in a quarry for the extraction of rare metals
© mykhailo pavlenko/Shutterstock.com
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China has leveraged upstream strengths to enhance downstream competitiveness, yet remains vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on imports of several minerals it considers as strategic. Since 2023, Beijing has introduced export controls on raw materials and technologies, exploiting chokepoints to advance broader geopolitical aims. These measures have heightened European efforts to diversify supply, though success has been hindered by China’s capacity to influence availability, prices, and overseas investments.

> This article is only available in french, and was published in the journal "Réalités Industrielles" of the Annales des Mines, 25 November.

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John SEAMAN

John SEAMAN

Intitulé du poste

Research Fellow, Center for Asian Studies, Ifri

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Asia Map
Center for Asian Studies
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Asia is a nerve center for multiple global economic, political and security challenges. The Center for Asian Studies provides documented expertise and a platform for discussion on Asian issues to accompany decision makers and explain and contextualize developments in the region for the sake of a larger public dialogue.

The Center's research is organized along two major axes: relations between Asia's major powers and the rest of the world; and internal economic and social dynamics of Asian countries. The Center's research focuses primarily on China, Japan, India, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific, but also covers Southeast Asia, the Korean peninsula and the Pacific Islands. 

The Centre for Asian Studies maintains close institutional links with counterpart research institutes in Europe and Asia, and its researchers regularly carry out fieldwork in the region.

The Center organizes closed-door roundtables, expert-level seminars and a number of public events, including an Annual Conference, that welcome experts from Asia, Europe and the United States. The work of Center’s researchers, as well as that of their partners, is regularly published in the Center’s electronic journal Asie.Visions.

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Climate & Energy
Center for Energy & Climate
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Ifri's Energy and Climate Center carries out activities and research on the geopolitical and geoeconomic issues of energy transitions such as energy security, competitiveness, control of value chains, and acceptability. Specialized in the study of European energy/climate policies as well as energy markets in Europe and around the world, its work also focuses on the energy and climate strategies of major powers such as the United States, China or India. It offers recognized expertise, enriched by international collaborations and events, particularly in Paris and Brussels.

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Date de publication
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Date de publication
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Harindra B. DASSANAYAKE Rajni GAMAGE
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Date de publication
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Page image credits
Aerial view of an excavator in a quarry for the extraction of rare metals
© mykhailo pavlenko/Shutterstock.com

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