UK and Japan Unite to Protect Rare Earth Supplies | DWS News | AC1C
“This strategy is the key to fortifying our national economies.” On January 31, 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Kantei to secure British access to the essential materials of the future. After a week of high-level diplomacy in China, the stop in Tokyo was designed to ensure that the UK’s diplomatic “reset” with Beijing does not leave it exposed to future supply chain disruptions.
The visit centered on a new commitment to partner on critical minerals—the rare earth elements indispensable for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and sophisticated defense technology. Following China’s recent decision to tighten export controls on dual-use materials to Japan, both leaders stressed the “urgent need” to diversify global sources. Starmer pointed out that as the two largest economies in the CPTPP, the UK and Japan are ideally suited to create a “resilience corridor” that reduces reliance on any single supplier.
The summit went beyond trade, signaling a strong personal and political rapport. Prime Minister Takaichi, currently managing a snap election campaign in Japan, confirmed that Starmer has formally invited her to Chequers, the UK Prime Minister’s official country retreat, later this year. Coming immediately after significant trade wins in China—such as the 50% reduction in whisky tariffs—the Tokyo meeting underscores Starmer’s “Global Britain” approach: engaging pragmatically with China while strengthening “ironclad” security and industrial bonds with key democratic partners like Japan.
#KeirStarmer #SanaeTakaichi #Japan #CriticalMinerals #EconomicSecurity #BreakingNews2026 #GlobalBritain #Tokyo #SupplyChain #TradeDeal
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