China defends critical minerals export controls after G7 statement

China defended its export control measures on critical mineral supplies and urged the Group of Seven nations to respect market economy principles and international trading rules rather favouring “small cliques”, its foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The remarks followed an agreement by G7 leaders on Wednesday to step up coordination to cut their countries’ reliance on China for critical minerals and including plans to align stockpiling and expand the role of the International Energy Agency.

(By Eduardo Baptista and Liz Lee; Editing by Barbara Lewis)