European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces the new "RESource EU" initiative in response to China’s sweeping rare earth and battery material export controls imposed on October 9. The plan aims to secure Europe’s access to critical raw materials vital for automotive, semiconductor, and defense industries by boosting recycling capacity, joint purchasing, and stockpiling, alongside new raw material partnerships with Ukraine, Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Chile. Von der Leyen frames this as Europe’s strategic counter to growing global geo-economic competition and China–U.S. trade tensions.
News/Videos/ Ursula's panic call to EU leaders as China gives rare earths export ban shock to west| Trump| tariff