想动手又怕中国“断稀土”，欧盟向中国提了个“不情之请”

Core Insights - China's rare earth export control measures have unexpectedly impacted the EU market, leading to a severe supply chain crisis in the European automotive industry, with several car manufacturers facing inventory shortages and some production lines forced to halt [1][3] - The EU has requested China to restore regular supplies, but this request has been rejected, highlighting the geopolitical tensions and the interconnectedness of US and EU businesses [1][3] - The EU is considering sanctions against Chinese and Indian companies under pressure from the Trump administration, but is likely to adopt a cautious approach to avoid significant conflict with China [1][3] Group 1: Impact on European Automotive Industry - The ongoing rare earth export controls from China have put European companies at risk of prolonged production halts, with the EU expressing concerns over the necessity of China's control measures [1][3] - The EU has reached a consensus with the US to invest in developing rare earth supply sources outside of China, but currently, only one Australian company has the capacity to export, which is significantly lower than China's output, especially in heavy rare earths critical for the automotive industry [1][3] Group 2: Dependency on Chinese Rare Earths - The EU's rare earth imports are entirely dependent on China, with significant reliance on imports for key metals like lithium, copper, and nickel, which are essential for modern industrial applications [3] - China's rare earth production accounts for 95% of the global supply and controls about 90% of the refining capacity, creating a dependency that complicates the EU's ability to take a hard stance against China [3]