Multimedia
1 March 2024

Critical metals – is US and EU collaboration possible?

Supply, demand and contrasting approaches to security in critical metals

©James from Getty Images via Canva.com

The 2024 edition of the AIG Global Trade Series explores the theme of ‘Back to the Future: A New Era of Managed Trade?’ Alongside decarbonisation, the digital transition is leading to higher demands for specialty metals and rare earths elements. With the chemical properties of cobalt, lithium and gallium amongst others being crucial to the production of advanced technologies, and the lack of substitutes, these critical metals are imported from abroad from specific locations.

 

This concentration of resources, and the increased risk of disruption, has led to concerns of these supply chains being weaponised or leveraged as tools of economic coercion by a producing or processing country. Given the strategic importance of these critical metals to, how can the EU and the US secure their access to them?

This episode explores the dynamics of these critical resources trade flows, from both European and US perspectives.

With:

  • Kathleen Claussen - Professor of Law, Georgetown Law 
  • Simon EvenettProfessor of International Trade and  Economic Development, St. Gallen University; Founder of the St. Gallen Endowment for Prosperity Through Trade

Moderated by Rem Korteweg, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute

 

 More info via AIG.

Authors

Programme Lead Geopolitics of Trade / Lead Clingendael US Programme / Senior Research Fellow