EU to offer US critical minerals partnership to check China

The European Union will pitch the US on a critical minerals partnership to curb China’s influence, looking to shape the Trump administration’s push to strike global agreements this week. The EU is prepared to sign a memorandum of understanding with the US to develop a “Strategic Partnership Roadmap” within three months, according to people familiar with the matter. The partnership aims to jointly find ways to source critical minerals, which are needed for most modern technologies, without relying on China. Both the US and EU have become tethered to abundant, cheap Chinese minerals, giving Beijing leverage over their supply chains….