Britain's tech ambitions depend on minerals made in China, MPs warn

Britain's ambitions for AI, advanced chips, and clean energy rest on mineral supply chains dominated by China, and MPs say they cannot establish whether ministers have a credible plan to reduce that dependence.

The House of Commons Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee has set ministers ten tests for securing critical minerals. Its verdict is hardly glowing – it cannot be confident the government passes any of them.

The tests cover whether ministers know which industries and technologies need protecting, what minerals they require, where supplies could be disrupted, and how domestic production, overseas partnerships, skills, and financing will close the gaps.

In a report published today, the committee warns that diversifying supplies will take ten to 15 years, and will require sustained investment and cooperation with allies. Completely cutting China out is neither realistic nor desirable, it says. Leaving Beijing with so much leverage is another matter.

Critical minerals underpin everything from batteries and semiconductors to datacenters and military …