The G7 countries have agreed to cap imports of critical minerals at 60% of their domestic consumption by 2030. The move, announced after meetings this week, targets a group of raw materials essential for modern manufacturing. No single country or company was named in the decision, but the limit applies across all G7 members.
Why the 60% cap
The limit is meant to reduce dependence on foreign sources for materials that power everything from smartphones to electric vehicle batteries. Currently, many critical minerals come from a handful of suppliers, leaving importing nations vulnerable to disruptions. The G7's new rule would force member countries to either produce more themselves or diversify where they buy from. The 2030 deadline gives governments and companies about six years to adjust supply chains.
What counts as critical
Critical minerals are those deemed essential for economic or national security. They include elements used in semiconductors, renewable energy systems, and military hardware. The G7 hasn't published a specific list tied to this limit, but the category typically covers lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and other materials with concentrated production. The 60% threshold is a hard cap — imports cannot exceed that share of a country's total consumption for any mineral covered by the agreement.
Implementation and challenges
Enforcement will likely fall to individual G7 governments, each responsible for tracking imports and domestic production. The group didn't announce penalties for non-compliance. Some members may struggle more than others: countries with little domestic mining or refining capacity will need to build new facilities or strike trade deals with alternative partners. The limit also doesn't apply to exports, only imports, so G7 nations can still sell critical minerals abroad.
The decision comes as global competition for these materials intensifies. Demand for lithium, for example, has surged on the back of electric vehicle production. By 2030, the G7 hopes to have more resilient supply chains, but the actual impact will depend on how quickly new mines and processing plants come online. No timeline for further details or a formal treaty was announced. The next G7 summit will likely revisit the progress toward that 60% target.
