Exclusive-G7 weighs price floors for rare earths to counter China's dominance, sources say

Core Insights - G7 members and the EU are considering implementing price floors and taxes on certain Chinese exports to boost rare earth production and encourage investment [1][5][6] Group 1: Rare Earth Production and Export Controls - China, as the leading producer of rare earths, introduced export controls in April, impacting European automakers and leading to a fast-tracking of licenses for European companies in May [2][3] - Despite improvements, European companies are facing rising license bottlenecks, which threaten further losses and shutdowns [2] Group 2: G7's Critical Minerals Action Plan - G7 countries, excluding Japan, are heavily reliant on China for critical materials, prompting the launch of a Critical Minerals Action Plan in June [3] - Technical teams from G7 nations convened in Chicago to discuss regulatory measures on foreign investment in critical materials to reduce dependency on China [4] Group 3: Regulatory and Taxation Discussions - G7 countries are divided on implementing geographical restrictions, such as local content rules or limits on sourcing from China in public procurement [5] - Discussions included the possibility of a carbon tax or tariff on Chinese rare earth exports based on non-renewable energy usage in production [5] Group 4: Price Floors and Subsidies - Officials are considering government-backed price floors to stimulate domestic production, a strategy recently adopted by the U.S. [6] - Australia is also contemplating a price floor for critical minerals projects, including rare earths, while Canada is positively inclined towards this idea but has not made a commitment [6][7]