Key insights
- The US and Japan are set to collaborate on rare earth, lithium, and copper development projects, including a rare earth refining operation in Indiana and a lithium mine in North Carolina. This initiative aims to bolster supply chains for critical minerals vital for defense, semiconductors, and renewable energy sectors. While mildly positive, the impact on US equities is limited as it's a long-term supply chain initiative.
Investing.com -- Japan and the United States are set to agree to jointly develop rare earths, lithium and copper at Thursday’s summit, the Nikkei Business Daily reported on Tuesday.
Japanese firms Mitsubishi Materials and Mitsui & Co are due to take part in the projects, which include a rare earth refining operation in Indiana and the development of a lithium mine in North Carolina, Nikkei said.
The projects mark the latest efforts to secure supply chains of critical minerals, which are essential to the manufacture of certain defense technologies, semiconductors and renewables components.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. at a leaders’ summit on March 19.
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