Securing access to critical metals – is US and EU collaboration possible?

AIG Global Trade Series

Supply, demand and contrasting approaches to security in critical metals.

Panellists:
Kathleen Claussen, Professor of Law, Georgetown Law

Simon Evenett, Professor of International Trade and Economic Development, St. Gallen University; Founder of the St. Gallen Endowment for Prosperity Through Trade

Moderator:
Rem Korteweg, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute

This podcast episode was recorded on 27 February 2024.

The 2024 edition of the AIG Global Trade Series explores the theme of ‘Back to the Future: A New Era of Managed Trade?’

Alongside decarbonisation, the digital transition is leading to higher demand for specialty metals and rare earths elements. With the chemical properties of cobalt, lithium and gallium amongst others being crucial to the production of advanced technologies, and the lack of substitutes, these critical metals are imported from abroad from specific locations.

This concentration of resources, and the consequently increased risk of disruption, has led to concerns about these supply chains being weaponised or leveraged as tools of economic coercion by a producing or processing country. Given the strategic importance to them both of these critical metals, how can the EU and the US secure their access? This episode explores the dynamics of trade flows in critical resources from both European and US perspectives.

Related content from GTS Contributors:
Report – Authors: Simon Evenett and Johannes Fritz | The Scramble for Critical Raw Materials: Time to Take Stock?

Blog – Author: Kathleen Claussen | What is a Free Trade Agreement, Anyway?

The Global Trade Series is a collaboration between AIG and the following international organisations with leading expertise on global trade: the Aspen Institute Germany; CEBRI - the Brazilian Center for International Relations; Chatham House (UK); the Clingendael Institute (The Netherlands); Elcano Royal Institute (Spain); ERIA – the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (Indonesia); IIEL - the Institute of International Economic Law at Georgetown University Law Center (US); ISPI - the Italian Institute for International Political Studies; the Jacques Delors Institute (France); RIETI - the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan); and the St. Gallen Endowment for Prosperity through Trade (Switzerland).

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