On July 10, DAI and MSA Mining co-hosted a high-level discussion on the global critical minerals landscape. The event brought together leaders from government, industry, and finance to explore China’s dominance in this area, the United Kingdom’s strategic options, and the role of values-based partnerships in building secure, sustainable supply chains. Following is a brief summary of the meeting.
“Critical minerals are indispensable to our new technologies... They are vital to our efforts to achieve net zero, industrial resilience, and national security.” – Opening remarks, the Rt Hon. the Baroness Northover, Vice Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Critical Minerals
Panel 1: Global Dependencies, Market Fragmentation, and the China Question
China’s dominance in critical minerals stems from a long-term industrial strategy that combines policy certainty, sector-specific subsidies, and large-scale domestic competition, particularly in electric vehicles and solar. Its process innovation has cut global costs, while its grip on batteries, magnets, drones, and rare earths positions China as the essential link in almost every global clean-tech supply chain.
China also leads in geological scoping and mineral processing, underpinned by its foreign direct investment and control of upstream inputs. Without Chinese involvement, entire supply chains would need rebuilding. China’s global positioning is further supported by tactical trade policies.
The United Kingdom, while unable to replicate China’s model, can learn key lessons. Panelists stressed the need for a long-term, cross-government strategy that aligns foreign policy, trade, and climate goals. Given the City of London’s standing as a major hub for mining finance, the United Kingdom has leverage if this asset is deployed with purpose. However, more robust domestic data is needed to support policy-making, and partnerships with the private sector are essential to fill this data gap.
Speakers warned against the growing fragmentation of global supply chains, noting its threat to the green transition. While decoupling from China may be politically desirable in sensitive areas such as defence and weaponry, excluding China entirely from the energy transition is neither realistic nor productive.
Official development assistance and concessional finance can be used to build reciprocal value chains with partner countries. Done poorly, this approach risks fueling resource extraction with little benefit to producing nations. Done well, it can drive local industrial development and avoid a new cycle of mineral-led exploitation.
Panel 2: Strategic Action, ESG, and Equitable Partnerships
Africa holds 70 percent of the world’s key critical minerals. But countries across the continent are increasingly looking to get more than merely extraction contracts from their mineral riches—they’re demanding job creation, local value addition, and sovereignty over their own resources.
Chinese investment has led the way in countries such as Zimbabwe and Madagascar. While early projects lacked transparency and community consultation, the Chinese approach is evolving. Still, many African governments remain open to new partners, especially those offering skills transfer, manufacturing, and shared long-term benefits.
In this context, a heavy-handed “environment, social, and governance” (ESG)-first approach will be counterproductive. Instead, governments must co-design with local actors and demonstrate how ESG commitments can enable industry development, attract financing, and reduce volatility. Done well, ESG is a competitive strength, not a compliance burden.
Participants argued that private investment will only flow where risk is mitigated. That means stable regulation, technical support for host governments, and patient capital. Several African countries offer abundant green energy and political will. The United Kingdom can help turn these positive factors into an investable opportunity by facilitating standards-setting, providing de-risking tools, and supporting industrial development. Angola’s solar sector and recent U.K.-financed grid investment there were cited as a case in point.
The panel also warned of public ambivalence in Western countries. Without citizen support, sustainability standards risk being undermined by demand for cheaper alternatives. The British government should build domestic buy-in for fair supply chains, just as Canada has done by highlighting job creation in the green economy.
Speakers called for practical action: fast-tracking promising projects, investing in midstream capacity such as refining and recycling, and ensuring U.K. trade and industrial policies promote responsible sourcing, not just access. Collaboration with EU and G7 partners will be key to building shared standards and ensuring a level playing field, the panel concluded.
