14/07/2023 (Agence Europe) – The Council of the EU is expected to adopt the negotiating mandate for the EU-US Critical Minerals Agreement at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Thursday 20 July. The Member States’ representatives to the EU are expected to give the go-ahead the day before, on 19 July. The European Commission sent the proposal for a decision on the mandate and the negotiating directives to the Council on 14 June (see EUROPE 13201/28). The EU-US agreement on critical minerals is intended to ensure the flow of supplies between the two blocs and the sustainability of raw materials, but the main aim is for the EU to qualify as Washington’s trading partner and guarantee its producers access to certain subsidies under the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) (see EUROPE 13139/3). (LM)