Slovakia's EU Commissioner Signs Critical Minerals Agreement with US to Counter China's Market Dominance

Maroš Šefčovič, Slovakia's European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations, signed a critical minerals agreement with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio aimed at protecting Europe and the United States from Chinese dominance in strategic raw materials. The agreement comes as the US and European Union together represent the largest consumers and users of critical minerals globally. The partnership seeks to reduce Western dependence on China's control over supply chains for materials essential to modern technology, renewable energy systems, and defense applications. Critical minerals include lithium, rare earth elements, and other materials crucial for electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, and advanced electronics manufacturing.