MNI BRIEF: EU To Continue China Rare Earth, EV Talks

The European Commission said on Monday that trade talks with China over rare earth exports are to continue at technical and political level, with discussions around electric vehicles also taking place but in a "separate workstream".  

Trade Spokesperson Olof Gill said that while the EU would benefit from the U.S.-China global deal on rare earth exports announced in early October, the EU would continue talks with China to resolve the less stringent rare earth control measures announced in early April. 

"We want there to be a stable and reliable supply of rare earth minerals and other critical inputs,” Gill said.

The EU-China dispute over EVs would also continue to be addressed "in a separate workstream,” he said. (See MNI: China Seeks EV Concessions For Rare Earths- EU Officials)

"The principles remain the same, if an effective and alternative solution can be proposed by China and shown to be workable we can look at that."