Japan and France to Reach Agreement on Joint Rare Earth Procurement

The Japanese and French governments will reach an agreement on a roadmap for procuring key minerals during their summit meeting on April 1st. To secure rare earths and other resources, they will jointly strive to diversify procurement sources. They will also promote cooperation between companies from both countries in the space sector.

In the joint statement to be issued by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron, concerns will be addressed, taking into account China, regarding the potential significant negative impact of export controls on key minerals.

The Japanese and French governments are currently constructing a rare earth refining plant in southwestern France, aiming for production to begin by the end of 2026. This plant will produce heavy rare earths used in electric vehicle (EV) motors, among other things.

Both sides will reaffirm their policy of establishing a supply chain independent of Chinese rare earths through these cooperative projects.

In the space sector, companies from both countries will sign Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for cooperation on projects such as space debris removal and rocket launches. Governments and private sectors will work together to promote investment in the space sector to enhance international competitiveness.

The collaborative projects include 12 items across 5 categories: (1) space debris removal, (2) rocket launches, (3) satellite data cooperation, (4) communications, and (5) space demonstration experiments.

Prepared materials from the Japanese government indicate that Japanese space startups and other companies will participate. Projects confirmed include IHI Aerospace, a subsidiary of IHI Corporation, collaborating with a French company on space safety monitoring, and PASCO, a measurement services giant, collaborating with Airbus on satellite data.

Furthermore, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) will provide financial support for companies’ space technology development.

Regarding joint development between Japanese and French companies, JAXA and CNES will prioritize providing financial support to Japanese and French companies, respectively. Information will be exchanged on promising projects to provide effective support.