欧盟经济学家：中国不肯卖稀土，欧洲就加关税，加到他们服软为止

Core Viewpoint - The European Union (EU) is shifting its approach towards China from "de-risking" to a more aggressive stance characterized by "extortion," particularly in response to China's export controls on critical raw materials like rare earths [1][10]. Group 1: Economic Strategy - Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, suggests that the EU should leverage tariffs as a bargaining tool, demanding China ease its rare earth export controls and commit to a monthly 1.5% appreciation of the yuan [3][10]. - The EU is considering legislative measures to enforce a reduction in dependency on Chinese supply chains, indicating a move away from market-driven decisions to regulatory mandates [4][10]. Group 2: Dependency on China - The EU currently consumes approximately 20,000 tons of permanent magnets annually, with 17,000 to 18,000 tons sourced directly from China, highlighting a significant dependency on Chinese raw materials [5][10]. - The EU's plan includes a €30 billion investment to support mining, refining, and recycling projects, although industry insiders express skepticism about the effectiveness of these measures [8][9]. Group 3: Geopolitical Context - The EU is caught between the resource-rich United States and China's efficient supply chains, leading to a sense of anxiety and frustration among European policymakers [10][11]. - The EU's shift towards weaponizing trade reflects a broader trend where global trade dynamics are increasingly influenced by geopolitical considerations rather than traditional free market principles [11][13].