USA, Japan, India, and Australia have taken the first steps towards cooperation on so-called critical minerals. The countries have agreed to jointly work for secure supply chains and reduce the influence from China, which today accounts for a large part of the export of several important minerals.
"Relying on a single country for processing and refining of critical minerals exposes our industries to economic pressure, price manipulation, and disruptions in the supply chain", it says in a joint statement from the countries, whose government representatives met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday.
Among the examples of so-called critical minerals is graphite, which is used in the manufacture of, among other things, electric car batteries.
It is still unclear what the cooperation between the countries will look like.
