The EU and the US have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU), launching a strategic partnership on critical minerals supply chain cooperation.
The agreement, signed in Washington DC by EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Šefčovič and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also outlines an EU-US Critical Minerals Action Plan.
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The initiative aims to enhance supply chain resilience and supports comprehensive cooperation throughout the material life cycle, including mining, processing, refining and recycling.
The partnership will back innovation, investment and geological mapping, alongside supply and demand strategies.
Šefčovič and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also introduced an Action Plan for Critical Minerals Supply Chain Resilience.
The plan explores various trade policies aimed at reinforcing international collaboration on critical minerals.
Under their Action Plan, the EU and the US are set to collaborate on a range of trade policies and tools to enhance coordinated international efforts.
These include considering border-adjusted price floors, market standards, price gap subsidies and offtake agreements.
Their cooperation will also concentrate on creating common standards for mining, processing and recycling, promoting investment, joint research and innovation, stockpiling strategies, and developing mechanisms for quickly addressing supply disruptions.
Both parties confirmed ongoing collaboration within international platforms like the G7 and the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement.
The MoU and Action Plan stem from agreements at the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting in Washington DC in February 2026, which involved Japan.
Šefčovič said: “It is encouraging to see EU-US cooperation on critical raw materials taking concrete shape. The vision is there – now the real test is execution, by turning shared ambitions into impactful projects.
“This will define our success. Critical minerals sit at the core of every future-facing industry – resilience is therefore inevitable and addressing vulnerabilities an imperative.”
The cooperation is set to build on the EU-US joint statement of 21 August 2025.
