By Jamie Hyland
BERLIN, August 26, 2025 — In a strategic move to bolster supply chain resilience and deepen transatlantic ties, Canada and Germany today launched a Joint Declaration of Intent to intensify cooperation on critical minerals and energy, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced during his visit to Berlin.
“Canada has immense potential to be a leading and reliable global supplier of critical minerals, and Canada and Germany are natural strategic partners in this mission. As Germany’s domestic demand for critical minerals grows and it diversifies its supply chains, Canadian workers and industries can be the strong, stable provider of these indispensable resources,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said.
The agreement, signed alongside Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, promotes collaboration in supply chain security, research and development, and co-funding of projects vital to industries from electric vehicles to defense and aerospace.
Minister Hodgson added, “Canada and Germany share a deep commitment to democracy, security, and sustainability – and German industry needs resources Canada can offer amidst global uncertainty. We are seizing this moment to build, secure, and compete together, in order to show the world that countries like Canada and Germany punch above their weight and lead as pillars of partnership and prosperity.”
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly also emphasized Canada’s strategic strengths: “Canada is an ideal strategic partner – we have the critical minerals and natural resources, as well as the workers, businesses, and know-how to get them to market. By strengthening our economic and industrial partnership with Germany, we are boosting Canada’s economic resilience and advancing Canada’s strategic interests alongside reliable allies.”
The declaration designates Isabella Chan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the Lands and Minerals Sector at Natural Resources Canada, as Canada’s Special Envoy to this initiative. Germany appointed Matthias Koehler, Deputy Director General of Raw Materials Policy, as its Special Envoy.
Quick facts highlight:
- Prime Minister Carney’s Berlin delegation includes Ministers Hodgson, Joly, and National Defence Minister David J. McGuinty.
- The announcement builds on Canada’s Critical Minerals Production Alliance launched at June’s G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
- Company-level deals include Troilus Gold agreeing to supply copper concentrate to Germany’s Aurubis AG, Torngat Metals entering an MOU with rare-earth magnet maker VAC, and Rock Tech Lithium partnering with Germany’s Enertrag to power its Guben facility with renewables.
- The energy dimension includes expanding LNG discussions and advancing the Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance to foster a transatlantic hydrogen corridor.
- Carney reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine, citing recent allocation of $2 billion in military assistance, and emphasized that “no decisions about Ukraine should be taken without Ukraine, and no decisions about Europe should be taken without Europe.”
This nonbinding framework underscores a mutual commitment to supply chain diversification and industrial collaboration—particularly in response to global disruptions stemming from geopolitical tensions and China’s restrictions on rare-earth exports.
By positioning itself as a trusted supplier of critical minerals and working closely with Germany on energy and security, Canada aims to accelerate its clean energy transition, bolster economic resilience, and strengthen diplomatic bonds within Europe at a pivotal moment in global trade and defense.
