‘China running a racket’: EU attacks Beijing’s rare earth curbs; bloc looking for alternatives

The European Union on Tuesday sharply criticised China’s tightening grip over rare earth exports, with the bloc’s industry chief warning that Beijing’s curbs amount to a “racket” and threaten Europe’s strategic autonomy.Addressing EU lawmakers, European Commission vice president Stephane Sejourne said the bloc must urgently accelerate efforts to cut its reliance on Chinese critical minerals. “It is high time for Europe to step up its game. To redouble its efforts to reduce our dependencies on China,” he told parliament, calling for a coordinated push to diversify supply chains.Rare earth elements – essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence technologies – remain dominated by Chinese producers, leaving Europe vulnerable to sudden export restrictions. Sejourne said Beijing’s latest curbs highlight the need for the EU to strengthen domestic capacity, expand partnerships with resource-rich nations and reduce exposure to geopolitical shocks.(With inputs from agencies)