France and Japan Sign Critical Minerals Agreement to Break China’s Rare Earths Grip

France Japan, Critical Minerals The governments of France and Japan have signed a critical minerals cooperation agreement aimed at building rare earths supply chains outside of China, developing extraction technology, and strengthening procurement resilience across defence, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing sectors. The deal, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron during a state visit to Tokyo, marks a significant escalation in allied efforts to restructure global rare earths trade — and comes as Chinese export controls continue to choke supply and drive prices to extraordinary leve...