The European Union is preparing its first joint stockpile of critical minerals to reduce dependence on China, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. The initial list includes tungsten, rare earths and gallium. Additional minerals are expected to be considered for later rounds, with one report saying magnesium could be added and that other materials such as germanium and graphite may also be assessed. The EU is also discussing storage arrangements with major port facilities. One source cited talks involving Rotterdam in the Netherlands, described as one of the region’s largest ports, to hold the materials as part of the stockpiling effort. The reporting characterizes this as one of the bloc’s more concrete steps toward insulating its economy from China’s dominance in the production and supply of these minerals. While the sources describe the shortlist and storage talks, they do not specify timelines, the size of the stockpile, or which entities would manage procurement and storage.