Commentary The United States is well on its way to creating a lithium demand curve that may only be met by China—but only if Beijing feels like it. That’s because the United States—along with the European Union—continue to pass laws and promote the replacement of gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and trucks with electric vehicles (EV). The problems is that China is buying up most of the world’s lithium and rare earth elements (REE) mines upon which EVs—and energy grids—critically depend. Predictably, as global demand for lithium continues to surge, China gains more market power with every lithium mine it buys—and it’s buying lithium mines all over the world, from South Africa and Australia to Canada and South America. China’s most recent purchase of Canada’s Neo Lithium Corporation by Zijin Mining Group Company proceeded without a national security review. China has also acquired numerous mines and mining rights in Chile without much competition. …