EU Eyes Vietnam as Alternative Critical Minerals Supplier Over China

MT Newswires · 2d ago
06:07 AM EDT, 10/14/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The European Union is looking to Vietnam as an alternative critical minerals source to China after Beijing restricted its exports in 2025, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing internal EU documents. The documents said Europe's push to "rearm and de-risk" makes Vietnam a critical supply partner, given its rare earth and tungsten reserves. The EU hopes to advance mineral supply talks during Vietnamese leader To Lam's planned visit to Brussels, Belgium, on Oct. 22. The Commission and the Vietnamese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.