German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade

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German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (left) with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao before talks on Monday. Photo: dpa

Published: 8:50pm, 8 Dec 2025Updated: 9:38pm, 8 Dec 2025

China’s deliveries of rare earths, semiconductors and other commodities to Germany dominated the talks between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Monday.

“In all of these areas, there has been uncertainty, and that needs to be eliminated,” Wadephul said as he began a trip to China aimed at addressing Berlin’s trade and geopolitical concerns.

According to Reuters, Beijing was far from being persuaded to grant general export licences for rare earth minerals that German manufacturers rely on.

A separate report from Bloomberg said Wadephul told the commerce minister that China was Germany’s “most important trading partner”, and Berlin wanted to “stick to that” and to “expand that”.

Wadephul is also expected to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Liu Haixing, the Communist Party’s diplomatic head.

The visit is expected to pave the way for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first trip to China early next year.

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