WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will team up with Canada and Australia to help countries around the world develop their reserves of minerals like lithium, copper and cobalt, the State Department said on Tuesday, part of a multi-pronged strategy to reduce global reliance on China for materials crucial to high-tech industries.
Washington grew more concerned recently about its dependence on mineral imports after Beijing suggested using them as leverage https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-rareearths/china-rare-earth-prices-soar-on-their-potential-role-in-trade-war-idUSKCN1T70IB in the trade war between the world’s largest economic powers. This would interrupt the manufacture of a wide range of consumer, industrial and military goods, including mobile phones, electric vehicles, batteries, and fighter jets.