By Julia Payne

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Australia is willing to sell shares in its new strategic reserve of critical minerals to allies including Britain, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Western governments scramble to end their reliance on China for rare earths and minor metals.

Critical minerals such as lithium are essential to technologies used in clean energy, semi-conductors and weapons among other sectors.

Beijing retaliated against U.S. controls on chip sales by placing export restrictions on its germanium and gallium.

Earlier this year, it responded to U.S. tariffs with new licence requirements for rare earths and related permanent magnets, crippling supply chains for U.S. and European carmakers for several months.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is

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