Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Vaishnaw Attends US Critical Minerals Meeting
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw from India attended a meeting in Washington hosted by the US Treasury Secretary.
The meeting was about finding ways to make sure important minerals, like rare earth elements, are available and not controlled by just a few countries.
Many finance ministers from different countries were there, including from Australia, Canada, Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK.
They all agreed that it's important to fix the problems in how these minerals are supplied.
The US talked about what they are doing and planning to do to make the supply chains stronger and more secure.
The US also said that countries should work together to solve these problems instead of separating themselves from each other.
Some countries want to set price floors and form new partnerships, while others want to avoid cutting ties with China and focus on collaborative solutions.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attended the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting hosted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington.
The meeting focused on securing and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals, especially rare earth elements, with participants expressing a strong desire to address vulnerabilities.
Finance ministers from Australia, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the UK, and the US participated, reflecting a broad international consensus.
The US highlighted its actions and investments to create resilient, secure, and diversified critical minerals supply chains, emphasizing prudent derisking over decoupling.
Discussions included potential solutions like setting a price floor for rare earths, forming new partnerships, and deploying policy tools to bolster non-Chinese supplies, with China controlling a significant share of the market.
- Who
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and finance ministers from various countries
- What
- Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting
- When
- Tuesday (local time)
- Where
- Washington, hosted by the US Treasury
- Why
- To discuss solutions for securing and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals, especially rare earth elements
Proactive Diversification
Cautious Engagement
Approach to China
Proactive Diversification
Countries should actively diversify supply chains to reduce dependence on China, including setting price floors and forming new partnerships.
Cautious Engagement
Avoid decoupling and instead pursue prudent derisking, focusing on collaborative solutions and maintaining economic ties with China.
- Event
- Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting
- Host
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
- Date
- Tuesday (local time)
- Participants
- Finance ministers from Australia, Canada, EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, UK, and the US
- Focus
- Securing and diversifying critical minerals supply chains, especially rare earth elements
- Key Minerals
- Rare earth elements, copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite
- US Actions
- Highlighted investments and planned steps for resilient supply chains
- US Stance
- Pursue prudent derisking over decoupling
- China's Role
- China controls 47%-87% of refining for key minerals, with an average market share of around 70%
- Potential Solutions
- Creating markets based on standards, deploying policy tools, and setting price floors
Sources
Vaishnaw Attends US-Hosted Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting
G7, other allies discuss ways to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earths
Ashwini Vaishnaw participates in critical minerals meeting in Washington, meets US Treasury Secy
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Attends Critical Minerals Ministerial Meet In US
‘Aligned to improve quality, availability of critical minerals’: Ashwini Vaishnaw hails ‘positive meet’ with US Treasury Secy Bessent
India Pax Silica Inclusion Reflects Strategic Trust: Union Ministry Secretary
