New Delhi, Oct. 25 -- The European Union is stepping up its efforts to end its reliance on China for rare earths, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday.

Her comments came weeks after China imposed more restrictions on its exports of rare earths, which are used to make crucial components of machines and daily-use items.

"In recent weeks and months China has dramatically tightened export controls over rare earths and battery materials," von der Leyen said at the Berlin Global Dialogue conference on Saturday.

The EU chief added that the tightening of restrictions poses a "significant risk".

The European Union will tap on to other countries like Australia, Canada, Chile, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and ...