US team with Canada providing low-interest loans to miners U.S. seeks to help countries boost key minerals' output to reduce reliance on China
Timothy Gardner
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...
...Frank Fannon, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for energy resources, said in an interview that tensions with China show the United States should be producing more rare earth minerals and help others ensure a secure supply. “We need to do more and we are not alone in this,” Fannon said.
Canada and Australia, two major mining countries, were partnering in the effort and other allies could join later, a U.S. official said.
Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, David MacNaughton, said Canadian officials have met with the State Department several times to discuss critical minerals and environmental issues around global mining and he looks forward to advancing the initiative...
The plan comes a week after the U.S. Commerce Department recommended urgent steps here to boost U.S. domestic production of “critical minerals,” including by providing low-interest loans to mining companies and requiring defence companies to “buy American.”...
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-minerals-china/u-s-says-it-will-help-boost-world-minerals-output-to-reduce-reliance-on-china-idUKKCN1TC1TD