China Slams US-Led Critical Minerals Alliance as Threat to Global Trade Order
BEIJING, Feb 5 (Reuters) – China issued a stern rebuke on Thursday against a U.S.-led initiative to create a preferential trade alliance for critical minerals, framing the move as an attempt to fragment the global economic order through exclusive "club rules."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters that Beijing "opposes any country undermining the international economic and trade order through rules imposed by small groups," directly responding to Washington's recently unveiled strategy to secure supply chains for minerals essential to green energy and defense technologies.
"Maintaining an open, inclusive, and universally beneficial international trade environment is in the common interest of all countries," Lin emphasized during a regular press briefing. The comments reflect growing tensions as major economies race to secure access to lithium, cobalt, rare earths and other resources vital for the clean energy transition.
Background & Analysis: The U.S. proposal, part of broader efforts to reduce dependency on Chinese supply chains, seeks to establish favorable trade terms among allied nations for critical minerals. China currently dominates processing and refining for many of these resources. Analysts view the push as both an economic and geopolitical maneuver, potentially reshaping global trade flows and challenging Beijing's strategic influence. The warning from China signals that it will likely leverage its market position and diplomatic channels to counter what it perceives as containment tactics.
Reactions from Observers:
Dr. Evelyn Reed, Trade Policy Analyst at Global Strategic Insights: "This is a predictable response. China's dominance in critical mineral processing isn't easily bypassed. The U.S. bloc may accelerate diversification, but it also risks bifurcating global standards and raising costs for everyone."
Marcus Thorne, Former Industry Consultant in Singapore: "The emotional rhetoric about 'small groups' ignores the real supply chain vulnerabilities many nations feel. This isn't about exclusion for its own sake—it's about resilience. China's reaction, however, shows how sensitive this issue has become."
Anya Petrova, Energy Security Advocate (via social media): "Finally! The U.S. wakes up to China's stranglehold on our future. This isn't 'undermining order'—it's building a secure, ethical alternative. Beijing's outrage only proves the alliance is necessary."
Professor Kenji Sato, Economics Faculty, Tokyo: "The ideal path is cooperation, not parallel systems. But trust is low. If both sides dig in, we could see a 'green tech cold war' with duplicated supply chains and slower climate progress."
(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Philippa Fletcher)