THE EUROPEAN UNION, LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN AND CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS: NORMS VERSUS TRADE|SECURITY NEXUS?
The proposal examines how the European Union is increasingly leveraging trade agreements and investment initiatives, such as the Global Gateway, in its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to secure reliable supplies of critical raw materials (CRMs). These efforts are closely linked to the EU’s objectives of advancing the green transition and strengthening the resilience of strategically important industries. Despite significant differences in resource endowments, Europe and Latin America face similar structural bottlenecks within CRM value chains. Both regions remain heavily dependent on external actors–most notably China–for the processing and conversion of raw materials into industrial-grade inputs. Consequently, they share a strategic interest in diversifying supply chains, enhancing domestic capabilities, and reducing unilateral dependencies. Against this backdrop, the chapter explores whether Latin America can move beyond its traditional role as a supplier of raw materials and capture a larger share of value creation along CRM value chains, while simultaneously reducing Europe’s strategic vulnerabilities.
