A Chinese company has offered the Taliban $10 billion and a proposal to build key strategic infrastructure connecting north-south Afghanistan in exchange for access to the country’s lithium reserves. Some experts raised concerns that the offer would allow the Chinese regime to expand its influence in the region. The proposal was discussed between a representative…

News Analysis South Korea, heavily dependent on exports to China, has seen its exports deteriorate further due to China’s economic downturn. Exports to China, once Korea’s largest trade surplus, have turned into its largest deficit since 2023. According to statistics released by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) in late March, South Korea’s trade balance…

The United States and Japan on Tuesday announced a trade deal on electric vehicle battery minerals that is key to strengthening their battery supply chains and granting Japanese automakers wider access to a new $7,500 U.S. EV tax credit. The swiftly negotiated agreement prohibits the two countries from enacting bilateral export restrictions on the minerals…

An Australian mining company with links to China has been subject to a state government inquiry for selling lithium around 70 percent below the current market prices despite being under administration. Alita Resources, which operates the Bald Hill lithium mine in Western Australia via its subsidiary Lithco, is expected to export 150,000 tonnes of lithium…

The federal government is investing over $344 million into programs aimed at developing research, commercialization, and other initiatives in Canada’s critical minerals sector. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson made the announcement on March 7, which follows his launching of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy in December 2022 that included a total federal investment of up to $3.8 billion….

U.S. lithium giant Albemarle will deepen control of Australian lithium mining assets after revamping its joint venture with Mineral Resources (MinRes). In turn, the Australian Mineral Resources will also gain partial control of two Chinese mining plants operated by Albemarle. In the new deal announced on Feb. 22, Albemarle will initially deepen control over two spodumene…

Converting America’s fleet of privately owned cars and trucks from internal combustion gasoline and diesel-fueled engines to Electric Vehicles (EVs) will cause critical shortages of Lithium—a must-have for batteries—and prompt more environmental damage due to increased mining, according to a new report. Avoiding the lithium shortages and dramatically increased environmental demand will require all but…

India has found 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir provinces, the country’s first major discovery, which experts believe could help India advance its goal to increase the production of electric vehicles (EVs). The Geological Survey of India made the discovery in the Salal-Haimana region of Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, according…

Will war break out over Taiwan? Would the United States get involved? And which side is most ready for a conflict, the United States, China, or Taiwan? A study says the U.S. defense industry is “not adequately prepared” to take on a Chinese invasion of the island. But war game simulations predict the opposite. China’s…

News Analysis Ottawa is taking steps to protect and develop its critical minerals supply chain by cracking down on foreign governments’ investment in these natural resources, though with China, experience has shown that determining whether or not a company is state-owned has been difficult. Critical minerals, which include lithium, cobalt, copper, as well as the…