Brussels Breakfast Briefing: 2025 EU-China Summit and rare earths: a test for Europe in the face of Beijing’s economic coercion

The Brussels Breakfast Briefing: 2025 EU-China Summit and rare earths: a test for Europe in the face of Beijing’s economic coercion will take place on July 17 from 8:30-9:30 AM (Doors open at 08:10) against the backdrop of the PRC’s weaponization of critical rare earth supply chains. The one-hour event will bring together a group of selected European officials, policymakers and experts, as well as representatives of selected foreign missions and organizations, for an exclusive briefing by MERICS analysts followed by a confidential discussion.

The upcoming EU-China Summit is scheduled to take place in Beijing on July 24 amid deteriorating bilateral relations, characterized by deep tensions around trade and economic rapports. In particular, Europeans regard the PRC’s imposition of export controls on key rare earth elements and technology as a demonstration of economic coercion. 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, the space for engagement appears narrower than ever. 

In this briefing, we will analyze key expectations for the July meeting and dive into the significance as well as the implications of Beijing’s decision to weaponize critical raw material supply chains at this juncture.

Speakers: 
Grzegorz Stec, Head of Brussels Office and Senior Analyst, MERICS 
Rebecca Arcesati, Lead Analyst, MERICS