New EU-US Partnership for Critical Minerals and Action Plan to Strengthen Supply Chain Security
Brussels, April 25 / WAM / The European Commission and the US administration announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership in the field of critical minerals, in addition to the adoption of a joint action plan between the European Union and the United States aimed at enhancing the flexibility of supply chains and diversifying sources of supply, in a step that reflects growing transatlantic coordination to confront global geopolitical and economic challenges.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in Washington, DC, by the European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčović, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The agreement establishes a long-term cooperation framework to build safe and sustainable supply chains for vital minerals that are essential for strategic industries, clean energy, and advanced technologies.
The memorandum stipulates bilateral cooperation that includes the value chain links, starting from exploration and extraction, through processing and refining, to recycling and recovery, as well as supporting innovation, investments, geological survey work, and taking integrated measures on both the supply and demand sides.
In a parallel step, European Commissioner Šefčović and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the launch of an action plan to enhance the flexibility of critical metals supply chains, in preparation for the possible launch of a multilateral trade initiative that includes international partners in the future.
According to the plan, the two sides intend to study a wide package of trade policies and tools to support coordinated international action, including setting minimum borders for prices adjusted at the borders, creating markets based on technical and sustainability standards, providing financial support to bridge price gaps, and concluding long-term purchase agreements for supplies.
The plan will also focus on developing common standards for mining, processing and recycling operations, encouraging mutual investments, promoting scientific research and innovation, creating strategies for strategic reserves, in addition to rapid response mechanisms when disruptions to global supplies occur.
The two parties affirmed their intention to continue joint work in relevant international forums, including the Group of Seven (G7) and the Forum for Geostrategic Resources Engagement (FORGE), in a way that enhances global coordination in this vital sector.
This step comes as a continuation of the joint pledges agreed upon during the Ministerial Meeting for Critical Minerals held in Washington on February 4, 2026 with the participation of Japan, as well as what was stated in the joint statement between the European Union and the United States issued on August 21, 2025, which stipulated expanding cooperation in the field of critical minerals.
Observers believe that the new agreement represents a strategic move by both sides to reduce dependence on limited sources of rare metals, and to ensure the stability of supplies necessary for the green transformation and the manufacture of electronic chips, batteries, defense, and advanced technology.
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