Canada's PM banks 13 critical-minerals partnerships and a France intelligence pact, while caught reassuring Trump over Chinese EV imports
Critical Minerals
Mining and, above all, refining — rare earths, lithium, copper.
state of play
The minerals war is escalating on licensing, not tonnage. China blacklisted MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, extending a 2025 regime that already cut magnet exports ~75% and idled some carmaker lines. The leverage is in refining — China refines over 80% of rare earths and makes ~90% of high-performance magnets — the same chokepoint logic as the chip standoff. Watch magnet-export licences and US price-floor deals.
tracking
Rare earths & magnets
Battery metals
Copper & base metals
latest
Beijing adds 10 US firms to its export-control list, tightening a licensing regime that already throttled magnet supply chains