Japan and EU Strengthen Critical Mineral Supply Chain Cooperation at Davos WEF

High-Level Talks at World Economic Forum

On January 21, 2026, a significant meeting took place at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, between Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Akazawa Ryosei, and European Union Executive Vice-President for Industrial Strategy and Prosperity, Stéphane Séjourné. The discussions focused on advancing cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, a key area of strategic importance for both economic blocs.

Reinforcing the Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance

The bilateral meeting served to reaffirm the commitment to the broader Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance, which was initially launched at the 30th Japan-EU Summit on July 23, 2025. Both officials underscored the importance of ensuring that any export control measures implemented are 'narrowly defined, non-discriminatory, and in line with international law and practice' to prevent disruptions to strategic supply chains, particularly those involving critical minerals.

Strategic Initiatives for Supply Chain Resilience

A core outcome of the meeting was the joint commitment to strengthening, diversifying, and securing critical mineral supply chains to enhance overall resilience. The officials recognized the potential for new cooperation opportunities arising from recent EU policy developments, such as the RESourceEU action plan. This plan represents a significant €3 billion investment drive aimed at accelerating the EU's Critical Raw Materials Strategy and reducing strategic dependencies.

Executive Vice-President Séjourné highlighted the financial mechanisms supporting these efforts, stating that 'the funding of €2 billion would be allocated through the EIB; €300 million would come from the Battery Booster programme and €600 million from Horizon Europe programme.' Japan and the EU agreed to urgently advance cooperation to establish critical mineral projects that promote diversification and resilience, mobilizing financial support through both government and private sector collaboration, utilizing tools such as equity, grants, loans, and guarantees.

Global Context and Future Outlook

The discussions in Davos also touched upon broader concerns regarding the impact of non-market policies on critical mineral supply chains, an issue that Minister Akazawa also raised in separate talks with officials from Britain and France during his trip to the World Economic Forum. This highlights a shared international perspective on the need for stable and secure access to these vital resources. The collaboration between Japan and the EU is expected to contribute significantly to global efforts in securing essential materials for various industries, from advanced electronics to renewable energy technologies.