5th November 2026
A powerful cross-party parliamentary committee has issued a stark warning to the UK government, stating that Britain remains “dangerously” dependent on China for critical raw materials.
In a comprehensive report published today by the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, MPs warned that without immediate intervention, the country cannot safely rearm its military, expand its AI infrastructure, or successfully meet its legally binding 2050 Net Zero targets.
The committee’s findings highlight an uncomfortable reality: sixteen years after China first weaponised its chokehold over global rare earth elements, the UK has drifted into a high-risk relationship of economic coercion.
The Alpha of the New Economy
Critical minerals—including refined lithium, cobalt, and various rare earths—are essential building blocks for modern technology. They are utilized in everything from electric vehicle batteries and commercial consumer goods to the fuselages and wings of advanced military aircraft.
According to the committee.
he true bottleneck lies in the refining and processing stage, an area heavily dominated by Beijing. With the UK's demand for lithium alone expected to increase 45-fold by 2030, MPs argue that leaving supply chains exposed is a severe national security threat.
"Critical minerals are the alpha of the new economy," said Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Committee. "We cannot re-arm Britain, build AI or deliver net zero unless we secure the minerals these technologies depend on. Yet... Britain remains dangerously exposed."
The 10-Point Plan to "Precision De-Risk" the UK
To counter this strategic vulnerability, the committee has introduced a robust 10-point plan containing rigorous tests to systematically evaluate and secure the UK's supply lines. Currently, MPs warn that the government does not appear capable of passing a single one of these tests.
The blueprint demands "new institutional and financial muscle," focusing heavily on a five-part operational framework:
Prioritise Sovereign Capabilities
Isolate and secure supply chains where a total dependence on China poses completely unacceptable national security or economic risks.
Forecast Hidden Demand
Create a centralised intelligence system combining government and industry data to accurately map minerals that are currently obscured within general trade statistics.
Maximise Domestic Infrastructure
Modernise outdated geological surveys, slash industrial energy costs to make local refining economically viable, and clear planning and permitting barriers to unlock domestic mining.
Incentivise Onshore Recycling
Halt the practice of exporting 80% of the UK’s valuable metal waste, redirecting it toward domestic recycling facilities to satisfy internal manufacturing demands.
Establish Allied 'Buyers' Clubs'
Collaborate with G7, European, and Indo-Pacific partners to aggregate demand and co-fund new alternative mines and smelters, which can cost upwards of $3 billion (£2.3 billion) each.
Funding the Future - The Critical Minerals Finance Facility
A core recommendation of the plan is the urgent creation of a centralized Critical Minerals Finance Facility. This body would unlock restrictive rules surrounding the UK’s existing public finance institutions, giving them the authority and financial firepower to issue grants, equity, loans, and long-term price floors to guarantee alternative, non-Chinese suppliers.
In response to the report, a government spokesperson pointed to an existing £400 million strategy aimed at ramping up domestic production and forging international partnerships. The government's stated 2035 target is to cap single-country critical mineral reliance at 60%, while sourcing 10% from domestic production and 20% via recycling.
However, the committee maintains that de-risking even a prudent portion of the UK's supply will take over a decade, meaning continuous drift is an option the country simply cannot afford.
5 November 2026
MPs demand action on dangerous dependence on Chinese critical minerals
The Guardion report