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G7, Allies Agree to Accelerate Derisking of Critical Minerals After Washington Talks

Ministers signaled urgency to reduce reliance on China by pursuing diversification over decoupling.

Overview

  • U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted finance chiefs from the G7 plus Australia, India, Mexico, South Korea and the EU, who voiced a shared intent to move quickly even without a joint statement.
  • Officials discussed concrete tools including coordinated shortage monitoring, responses to market disruption, public finance support, tax and trade measures, recycling initiatives and a possible rare‑earth price floor.
  • Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama warned of supply risks tied to Beijing’s tightened controls on dual‑use exports to Japan and relayed lessons from China’s 2010 rare‑earth export halt.
  • Australia announced a strategic reserve plan to stockpile antimony, gallium and rare earth elements, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers citing market concentration and price manipulation as investor concerns.
  • U.S. House lawmakers introduced the bipartisan DOMINANCE Act to strengthen international coordination, expand allied production and establish new energy‑security compacts for critical minerals.