European Union Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership on critical minerals at the State Department in Washington on Friday. | AFP-JIJI

Washington –

The U.S. and the European Union on Friday deepened their coordination on critical minerals as part of a broader push by Western allies to loosen China's grip on materials crucial to advanced manufacturing.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European Union Trade Commissioner ​Maros Sefcovic signed a memorandum of understanding for a partnership on producing and securing critical minerals, with a specific ‌action plan ‌for trade announced separately.

Rubio did not mention China in his remarks, but said the preliminary ​agreement with Brussels reflected growing awareness among Western allies of the importance of supply chains and critical minerals for their economic success.

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