Politics · United Kingdom · 4 hrs ago
MPs warn UK is dangerously exposed to China’s critical minerals dominance
A UK parliamentary committee says Britain is dangerously exposed to China’s dominance of critical minerals.
These minerals are used in technologies including electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and defence equipment.
China controls 60% of mining for magnet rare earths, and the committee says Britain lacks enough information about its mineral needs and supply risks.
The committee wants the Government to map dependencies and identify which capabilities Britain should develop at home.
It also recommends expanding domestic mining, processing and recycling, while reducing processing costs and sharing investment with allied countries.
A proposed Critical Mineral Finance Facility would support strategic projects with tools such as loans and long-term purchase agreements.
The Government’s 2025 strategy aims to meet 10% of UK demand through domestic production and 20% through recycling, but the committee says reducing supply risks will take more than a decade.
A UK parliamentary committee warned that Britain remains dangerously exposed to China’s dominance of critical minerals.
The committee’s report, published on 5 November, calls for the UK to map its mineral needs and develop alternative supplies.
Its recommendations include more domestic mining, processing and recycling, allied buyers’ clubs, and a Critical Mineral Finance Facility.
The Government’s November 2025 strategy aims to meet 10% of UK critical mineral demand through domestic production and 20% through recycling.
The International Energy Agency estimates that meeting rising demand for magnet rare earths without Chinese production would require $60bn in investment over the next decade.
- Who
- The Business and Trade Sub-Committee on Economic Security, Arms and Export Controls.
- What
- It warned that Britain is dangerously exposed to China’s dominance of critical minerals and recommended measures to reduce supply risks.
- When
- The report was published on 5 November 2026.
- Where
- The United Kingdom.
- Why
- China’s dominance and potential export controls could leave UK supply chains exposed to economic coercion.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Government published an updated Critical Minerals Strategy, setting targets for domestic production and recycling.
The Business and Trade Sub-Committee on Economic Security, Arms and Export Controls launched a follow-up inquiry into UK critical mineral supply.
The committee published its report on supply-chain threats and recommended ways to reduce the risks.
- Domestic production target
- 10% of UK critical mineral demand
- Recycling target
- 20% of UK critical mineral demand
- China’s share
- 60% of mining of magnet rare earths
- Investment estimate
- $60bn over the next decade to meet rising magnet rare earth demand without Chinese production
- Global economic risk estimate
- $6.5tn in annual losses if stricter proposed Chinese export controls were imposed
2 sources
What people are saying
We cannot re-arm Britain, build AI or deliver net-zero unless we secure the minerals these technologies depend on.
Yet sixteen years after China first weaponised its chokehold over rare earths, Britain remains dangerously exposed.
We’re never going to eliminate Chinese minerals from our supply chains.
De-risking even a prudent proportion of our supplies will take over a decade.