Securing the Supply Chain: Decoding the EU Critical Raw Materials Act for Asia

WHEN:  29 October 2026     I    TIME:  14:00 - 15:30 (Bangkok Time)     I    Register HERE  

Background: 

The European Union’s reliance on third countries for raw materials critical to the green and digital transitions, such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, presents major economic vulnerabilities. In response, the EU enacted the Critical Raw Materials Act to secure its strategic autonomy by setting 2030 targets: 10% domestic extraction, 40% domestic processing, 25% domestic recycling, and limiting reliance on any single non-EU country to no more than 65% for any strategic material.

While many welcome the CRMA’s emphasis on higher recycling targets (up to 25%), some consider that the act fails to set binding targets for absolute material consumption reduction, relies heavily on voluntary certification schemes, and lacks explicit mandates for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous and local communities affected by mining projects.

For Asia, the primary engine of global mineral refining and electronics manufacturing, the CRM Act carries significant implications. It pushes Asian exporters toward strict supply chain transparency, heightened environmental footprint reporting, and enhanced secondary material recovery, while simultaneously shifting EU trade policies toward strategic bilateral partnerships.

Webinar Session: 

The EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component and the European Environmental Bureau, are convening the webinar, Securing the Supply Chain: Decoding the EU Critical Raw Materials Act for Asia to:

• Analyze the CRM Act Framework: Break down the EU Critical Raw Materials Act standards, 2030 benchmarks, and circularity mandates.
• Examine challenges: Evaluate environmental concerns regarding raw material consumption reduction, FPIC rights, and secondary material recovery standards.
• Assess the Impact on Asian Supply Chains: Discuss how EU environmental footprint tracking and compliance demand will reshape Asian manufacturing, mining, and export strategies.
• To explore how the EU Critical Raw Materials Act can foster EU–Asia partnerships through circular economy strategies—such as material efficiency, substitution, and recycling—that drive local value creation in Asia and align with the Global Gateway.

Moderator:

Elodie MARIA-SUBE, Expert on EU policy development and partnership building at the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component 

Elodie is specialized in European Affairs related to topics of circular economy, SCP, climate change and environmental management, and has extensive experience in stakeholder consultation and engagement at the EU level, as well as with high-level officials in Ministries of Environment and Finance in Asia. For over a decade, Elodie has worked in South and South-East Asia on environment and climate change. She is currently leading the SWITCH-Asia Technical Advisory project on Sustainable/ Green Public Procurement for Transformation.

Agenda