Archive · 12 Jan 2026
US Hosts Critical Minerals Meeting
The United States is hosting a meeting in Washington with important countries like India, Australia, and others to talk about special minerals that are very important for making things like phones, cars, and even defense technologies.
These minerals are mostly controlled by China, and the US wants to make sure that other countries can get these minerals from different places so that they are not too dependent on China.
The meeting is happening because the US thinks it's very important to act quickly.
The US has already made a deal with Australia to get these minerals from there instead.
The meeting is being hosted by the US Treasury Secretary, and the Indian minister for electronics and information technology is also attending.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosts a meeting with G7 nations, EU, Australia, India, South Korea, and Mexico to discuss critical minerals.
China controls around 70% of the market for critical minerals like copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths.
The US has made an $8.5 billion agreement with Australia to secure critical mineral supplies.
Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw arrives in Washington to participate in the meeting.
The US aims to secure critical mineral supply chains to boost national and economic security.
- Who
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, G7 finance ministers, EU, Australia, India, South Korea, Mexico
- What
- Meeting to discuss critical minerals and supply chains
- When
- Monday, January 11, 2021
- Where
- Washington, D.C.
- Why
- To secure supply chains and boost economies by reducing dependence on China for critical minerals
- Meeting Host
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
- Meeting Participants
- G7 nations, EU, Australia, India, South Korea, Mexico
- China's Market Share
- 70% of copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, rare earths
- US-Australia Agreement
- $8.5 billion project pipeline
- Meeting Date
- Monday, January 11, 2021
- US Official's Statement
- Urgency is the theme of the day
- India's Representative
- Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
- US Priority
- National and economic security
Sources
US to push for quicker action in reducing reliance on China for rare earths
G7 Summit: Ashwini Vaishnaw arrives in Washington for Critical Minerals Ministerial Meet
Ashwini Vaishnaw arrives in Washington for US-hosted critical minerals meeting
