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Document 52023PC0327
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals
COM/2023/327 final
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 14.6.2023
COM(2023) 327 final
Recommendation for a
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising the opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.CONTEXT OF THE RECOMMENDATION
1.1.Reasons for and objectives of the recommendation
On 16 August 2022, the United States of America (“US”) enacted the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) 1 , amending Section 30D of the United States Internal Revenue Code (the “Clean Vehicle Credit”). This became a subsidy for the purchase of qualifying battery or fuel cell operated vehicles in the form of a tax credit worth up to USD 7,500 per vehicle.
To qualify for the maximum amount of the subsidy, a vehicle must inter alia be equipped with a battery that has a minimum critical mineral content share of 40% (50% as of 2024, 60% as of 2025, 70% as of 2026, 80% as of 2027) being:
(1)extracted and processed in the US or a country with which the US has a free trade agreement in force; or
(2)recycled in North America.
The Clean Vehicle Credit is thus increasingly excluding EU-originating critical minerals and processed materials for automotive batteries from US supply chains. This is in contrast to imports of critical minerals and processed materials from US free trade agreement partners like Chile and Korea, or Japan with whom the US concluded a critical minerals agreement on 28 March 2023. This has a negative effect on the EU’s export possibilities to the US.
On 10 March 2023, President von der Leyen and President Biden therefore issued a joint statement indicating their intention to start negotiations on a targeted EU-US Critical Minerals Agreement (the “CMA”) 2 to ensure that minerals extracted or processed in the EU could be used in vehicles eligible for the Clean Vehicle Credit. The US has made clear that the conclusion of a CMA is needed to grant the EU equivalent status to US free trade agreement partners for the purpose of the Clean Vehicle Credit.
In 2022, the EU exported EUR 8.3 billion of relevant critical minerals to the US, representing 16.3% of total EU exports of these commodities.
In addition to addressing these issues under the IRA the EU and the US would, by concluding a CMA, also take a new step to deepen their broader economic relationship and help build sustainable and resilient international supply chains in sectors key to the respective net-zero transitions and security, including aerospace and defence.
The US forwarded a CMA proposal to the European Commission (the “Commission”) on 10 March. The Commission forwarded this proposal to the Council of the European Union (the “Council”) and European Parliament on 21 March 2023.
1.2.Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
The negotiation and conclusion of a CMA is consistent with the EU’s overall trade policy as it would help to increase trade and investment between the EU and the US and reduce the risk of new trade tensions between the EU and US. This double objective is fully consistent with the Treaty on European Union (TEU), which states that the EU should encourage the integration of all countries into the world economy, including through the progressive abolition of restrictions on international trade. 3 It is also in line with the nature of the EU-US strategic partnership as reaffirmed in the last EU-US summit statement of 15 June 2021 4 and the positive economic agenda of the Trade and Technology Council, as expressed in its Joint Statements of October 2021 5 , May 2022 6 , December 2022 7 and May 2023 8 .
1.3.Consistency with other Union policies
The recommendation is consistent with other Union policies.
In its proposed Critical Raw Material Act of 16 March 2023 9 , the Commission sets out to enhance its cooperation with third countries by stimulating sustainable investments in critical raw material value chains and other components down the value chain and turning economic opportunities into mutually beneficial realities. The creation of strategic partnerships in raw materials value chains, such as via the CMA, is an important tool to enhance such cooperation.
This recommendation is consistent with the proposed Net Zero Industry Act 10 , which aims to scale up the EU manufacture of key carbon neutral or “net-zero” technologies to ensure secure, sustainable and competitive supply chains for clean energy in view of reaching the EU's climate and energy ambitions.
2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
2.1.Legal basis
Article 218(3) and (4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
2.2.Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)
According to Article 5(3) of the TEU, the subsidiarity principle does not apply in areas of exclusive EU competence. The likely substantive legal basis of the agreement which will be the outcome of these negotiation is the common commercial policy, which is listed among the areas of exclusive competence of the Union in Article 3 TFEU. This policy includes the negotiation of trade agreements pursuant to Article 207 TFEU.
2.3.Proportionality
The Commission recommendation is in line with the principle of proportionality, and necessary in light of our objective to ensure EU-originating critical minerals and processed materials for electric vehicle batteries are not discriminated against by being considered to be originating from a “country with which the United States has a free trade agreement in effect” in the application of the Clean Vehicle Credit.
2.4.Choice of the instrument
Decision of the Council.
3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
3.1.Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation
Not applicable.
3.2.Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation
Not applicable.
3.3.Stakeholder consultations
Relevant stakeholder consultations have taken place about the possible gains from ensuring EU-originating critical minerals and processed materials are considered to be originating from a “country with which the United States has a free trade agreement in effect” in the application of the Clean Vehicle Credit. Several hearings and Civil Society Dialogue meetings have been organised. This is in addition to public debates in or organised by the European Parliament and in EU Member States.
3.4.Impact assessment
Due to the political imperative to move ahead quickly in order to diminish or avoid trade tensions between the EU and the US in the aftermath of the IRA, and in order to ensure that minerals extracted or processed in the EU would count for clean vehicle tax credits under the IRA and its implementation measures, the formal impact assessment process has been waived.
3.5.Fundamental rights
The recommendation is consistent with the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
The CMA will not have any budgetary implications for the Union.
5.OTHER ELEMENTS
5.1.Procedural aspects
The Commission will negotiate on behalf of the EU an agreement to be concluded between the EU and the US. In accordance with Article 218(4) TFEU, it is suggested that the Council designates the Trade Policy Committee as the committee in consultation with which the negotiations must be conducted.
The European Parliament will be informed at all stages of the procedure, in line with Article 218(10) TFEU.
The Commission will make this Recommendation and its Annex public immediately after its adoption.
The Commission recommends that the negotiating directives be made public immediately after their adoption by the Council.
Recommendation for a
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising the opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 218(3) and (4) thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Commission is hereby authorised to open negotiations, on behalf of the European Union, with the United States of America for an agreement between the European Union and the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals.
Article 2
The negotiations shall be conducted on the basis of the negotiating directives of the Council set out in the Annex.
Article 3
The Commission shall conduct negotiations in consultation with [name of the special committee to be inserted by the Council].
Article 4
This Decision and its Annex will be made public immediately after their adoption.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Commission.
Done at Brussels,
For the Council
The President
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 14.6.2023
COM(2023) 327 final
ANNEX
to the
Recommendation for a Council Decision
authorising the opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals
ANNEX
DIRECTIVES FOR THE NEGOTIATION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS OF CRITICAL MINERALS
Nature and Scope of the Agreement
1.The Agreement should contain provisions on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals and related sectors.
2.The Agreement should be fully consistent with the World Trade Organisation (“WTO”) Agreement and other international agreements concluded by the European Union or the European Union and its Member States.
Objectives
3.The Agreement should strengthen the trade in and diversification of international supply chains of critical minerals and promote the adoption of electric vehicle battery technologies by formalising the shared commitment of the European Union and United States of America to facilitate trade, promote fair competition and market-oriented conditions for trade in critical minerals, ensure trade-related robust labour and environmental standards in supply chains of critical minerals, and cooperate in efforts to ensure secure, sustainable, and equitable critical minerals supply chains.
Content of the Agreement
4.The Agreement should contain provisions on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals, thus providing for reciprocal trade, labour and environmental commitments.
Trade-facilitation aspects
5.The Agreement should facilitate trade, expand access to sources of critical minerals that are sustainable, trusted and free of labour abuses, and promote fair competition and market-oriented conditions for trade in critical minerals.
6.The Agreement should aim to build a shared understanding of distortive non-market policies and practices in critical minerals, as well as other related sectors and develop coordinated action to foster supply chain diversification, reduce vulnerabilities, and de-risk strategic dependencies.
Sustainability aspects
7.The Agreement should encourage cooperation in ongoing work including on international standards for critical minerals lifecycle assessment, extraction, labelling and recycling with a view to supporting sustainable supply chains.
8.The Agreement should promote high levels of environmental protection with respect to critical minerals and foster improvement of levels of environmental protection with respect to the critical minerals’ lifecycle and trade in critical minerals.
9.The Agreement should underline the important role that multilateral environmental agreements play in protecting the environment, including related to environmental impacts from the lifecycle of critical minerals, and the importance of implementing relevant multilateral environmental agreements.
10.The Agreement should encourage measures that promote more resource efficient and circular economy approaches to reduce the demand for, and environmental impact of, critical minerals extraction and related processes.
Labour aspects
11.The Agreement should confirm the intention of both sides to adopt and maintain labour rights in their laws and practices and to maintain policies that are considered appropriate to protect workers in the critical minerals sector against any employment discrimination in accordance with the International Labour Organization’s fundamental principles and rights at work.
12.The Agreement should recognise the importance of cooperation as a mechanism to advance common goals regarding labour rights in critical minerals extraction and processing.
13.The Agreement should recognise the importance of consulting with a wide range of stakeholders on trade policy related to critical minerals supply chains, including labour, environmental and business organisations, representatives of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and civil society organisations.
International aspects
14.The Agreement should recognise the importance of continued bilateral and plurilateral efforts to strengthen sustainable and equitable supply chains through common standards among allies and partners. Accordingly, the European Union and United States of America will cooperate bilaterally and in plurilateral fora, as appropriate, regarding efforts to ensure secure, sustainable, and equitable critical minerals supply chains.
