Germany and Argentina sign raw material partnership
A declaration of intent is to improve Germany’s access to raw materials needed for cutting-edge technology and to reduce dependencies.
Buenos Aires (dpa/d.de) – Germany and Argentina want to cooperate more closely in the areas of mining and raw materials. The German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Argentine counterpart Pablo Quirno signed a declaration of intent to this effect in Buenos Aires. Mr Wadephul referred to supply chains being vulnerable in times of crises as well as the goal to “diversify our economies and become more resilient”.
The cooperation is to focus on critical minerals and rare earths which Germany needs for producing cutting-edge technology, and for which Berlin seeks to reduce dependencies, for example, on China. Argentina possesses large deposits, including of lithium, as well as developing projects for extracting materials such as copper. Johann Wadephul stressed that Germany was able to provide technology for local processing and would ensure compliance with environmental and social standards in this context. Both ministers highlighted the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement as a signal of the promotion of free trade.
The Mercosur summit in Paraguay was Wadephul’s first stop on his trip around South America. Following his visit to Buenos Aires, he is expected in Brazil today. In Sao Paulo, Mr Wadephul will be attending a conference held by the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad that is dedicated to exploring the opportunities offered by the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur states.
