The director of the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI), Wolfgang Niedmark
The German industry warns that the restrictions applied by China to the export of minerals known as rare lands may lead to a situation similar to the 2022 energy crisis, triggered by the interruption of Russian natural gas supply.
Speaking to the weekly Der Spiegel, the director of the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI), Wolfgang Niedmark, stated that the sector is “alarmed” with the situation and that if it continues, the whole sector may soon face problems that may even lead to production stoppages.
“We are facing a metal crisis similar to the energy crisis of 2022, When Russia ceased to provide gas, ”he said, highlighting among the most affected sectors of the automotive industry, machinery and energy technologies and defense.
According to Niedmark, for the manufacture of electric motors, robotic devices or drones, the dependence on imports China has restricted is “criticism.”
This Saturday, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing said that China attributes “great importance” to “European concerns” in this matter and is willing to establish a “Green Channel” For rare land export requests that meet the requirements in order to accelerate their approval.
Since April 2, as part of the tariff climbing with the US, Beijing imposed a new license regime which requires foreign companies to request authorizations to export these raw materials (minerals such as Samarius, Gadolinium, Terbian, Disciplinary, Lutecio, Scândio and Itrian and derived Imales), alleging national security reasons.
To China – what dominates more than 60% of mining and 92% of refined production of these strategic materials on the world, According to the International Energy Agency – it now proposes the creation of a “green channel” to facilitate exports of these rare lands to the European Union (EU).
These discussions take place on the eve of the next summit between EU and China, which will take place in July in China on the occasion of 50 years of relations between Brussels and Beijing.
This summit may give rise to a rebalancing of relationships between the European bloc and China, at a time when political and commercial divergences persist.
