Population growth, economic development and changing consumption patterns are putting tremendous pressure on the demand for natural resources. Whereas demand is growing rapidly, supply is growing much more slowly due to a complex mix of factors, such as technological challenges, financial barriers or hindering legislation. The imbalance between booming demand and limited supply has resulted in high prices and increased competition between countries over access to natural resources. At the same time, the international system is in transition. The relative power of the West is declining and the influence of emerging economies is growing. Slowly, the world is moving from a Western-dominated order to a multipolar world in which state capitalist tendencies are becoming prominent, especially in the natural resource sector. Concerns about mitigating climate change, depletion of fossil fuels, economic competitiveness and innovation have pushed governments around the world to formulate natural resource strategies. Securing resources has become a priority for policy makers and companies.

The policy measures countries take vary. Whereas import dependent countries, including some of the emerging economies, aim to secure the necessary resources for economic growth, producing countries aim to reap the benefits from their natural resource endowment and rising resource prices. Certain policy measures have negative effects on international trade in resources. Increasing protectionism and other trade barriers pose a real challenge for the European Union (EU), which is to a large degree dependent on imports, and for European companies.

This chapter describes the international trends that are shaping the geopolitics of natural resources and looks at the implications for Europe and the Netherlands. First, it looks at the position of Europe and the Netherlands in international trade f lows of natural resources and the vulnerability associated with import dependence for certain resources, including energy, minerals and food commodities. Second, the chapter looks at the changes in the international system that are shaping the current economic and political world order in which trade in natural resources takes place. Third, the chapter identifies challenges and opportunities for the EU and the Netherlands.

International trade flows of natural resources

Natural resources are geographically unevenly distributed over the globe. Whereas some countries enjoy a rich resource endowment, others have limited or no domestic supplies. Trade has helped alleviate some of these disparities (OECD, 2011b).