The Group of Seven (G7) leaders have agreed on a plan to decrease reliance on China for rare earths and critical minerals essential for defense and technology applications. This agreement was announced in a joint statement released on June 17, 2026, during the G7 meeting in France. The leaders stated that no single country outside the G7 and its partners should supply more than 60% of rare earths and permanent magnets by 2030, aiming for a target of 50% as soon as possible. Although the statement did not specifically name China, it is recognized as the leading global supplier of these materials.
In response to previous U.S. tariffs, China had imposed export controls on key rare earths. The G7 nations, which include Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, committed to enhancing critical mineral production and recycling rates. They plan to collaborate with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to develop a traceability system for critical minerals, starting with pilot programs for lithium and nickel, and expanding to five new minerals each year.
The leaders emphasized the importance of transparency and combating illegal trafficking of critical minerals. They also agreed to establish a nonbinding G7 Critical Minerals Resilience and Production Alliance to support these initiatives.