Published on
05/06/2026 - 16:44 GMT+2
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič pledged on Friday a new instrument designed to help European businesses diversify suppliers and prevent shortages of critical materials from China.
“Diversification now requires a dedicated instrument,” Šefčovič said at the Brussels Economic Security Forum, organised by the European Policy Centre and partnered by Euronews. “Recent industrial cases, in particular supplies of chips and rare earths, have reinforced my conviction that a step change is necessary.”
His announcement follows disruptions to European strategic industries last year when China blocked exports of rare earths — essential for green technologies and the defence sector — as well as chips used by the automotive industry.
