EU Says Must ‘Step up’ Against China Rare Earths ‘Racket’

Stephane Sejourne, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, speaks during the so-called "Friends of Industry Conference" on November 3, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP)

The European Union must ramp up efforts to break its dependence on China for rare earths faced with export curbs that amount to a “racket” by Beijing, the bloc’s industry chief Stephane Sejourne said Tuesday.

China, the world’s top producer of rare earths, in October announced new controls on the export of the elements, used to make magnets crucial to the auto, electronics and defence industries.

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