Chinese stranglehold on rare earths forces UK into secret talks with allies
Britain is grappling to secure supplies of the minerals, used in motors of electric cars and in wind turbines, to power green revolution
2 May 2021 • 6:00am
The subject is expected to be high on the agenda at the G7 meeting in June in Cornwall, which is home to untapped resources of lithium
Credit: Cornish Lithium /Neil Williams
Fears China will “turn off the taps” on Britain’s green revolution has forced ministers to enter secret talks with seven commonwealth countries to mine their rare earths.
Officials from the Department of International Trade and the Foreign Office have had meetings with representatives from Australia, Canada, Malawi and Tanzania in a bid to persuade them to supply rare earths, as well as critical metals such as lithium to the UK.