White Smoke for an EU-US Mineral Deal
After years of talks, the EU and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Joint Action Plan on critical minerals, introducing a border‑adjusted price floor and rapid‑response mechanisms aimed at curbing China’s market dominance. The agreement also creates joint investment‑screening and standards‑development processes, and envisions a future plurilateral forum that could include Japan and other allies. While the pact is non‑binding, it signals a decisive shift toward coordinated Western supply‑chain security. Parallel moves include a U.S.‑run 4,000‑acre economic security zone in the Philippines and China’s minerals‑for‑security deal with Mozambique.
Critical Supply: Nothing’s Quiet on The Mineral Front
The U.S. and Japan activated a three‑page Critical Minerals Action Plan that introduces a border‑adjusted price floor to block Chinese price dumping and explores a Mutual Recognition Agreement for standards. In Europe, the long‑awaited EU‑U.S. minerals pact is lagging due...