Germany and Japan Ink Critical Minerals Partnership for Joint Purchasing and Financing-Welcome to Great Powers Era 2.0

Highlights

• Germany and Japan signed a ministerial critical minerals partnership on October 28, proposing joint purchase agreements and co-financing to diversify supply.
• The deal creates a framework for execution but lacks project-specific tonnage, funding allocations, or delivery schedules.
• A Transition Vulnerability Window remains: countries stay dependent on existing suppliers while alternative projects are built, commissioned, and approved.
• A concrete precedent exists: JOGMEC and Iwatani committed up to €110 million to France's Caremag, securing 50% of planned heavy rare earth output.
• Joint purchasing builds resilience only if it supports viable suppliers rather than simply negotiating cheaper imports from current sources.