Advertisement
US-China relations
ChinaScience

US senators introduce bill confronting China’s dominance in critical minerals

  • Legislation would require consideration of duties on Chinese critical minerals, create a fund to support investments in the sector, and support American projects abroad

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
7
Carbonatite rocks containing high-grade gallium and other critical minerals. Photo: US Critical Materials
Bochen Han
A bipartisan group of US senators introduced sweeping legislation on Thursday strengthening diplomatic and financial tools to counter China’s dominance over critical minerals.
Advertisement
The Global Strategy for Securing Critical Minerals Act of 2024 would require an assessment of imposing duties on critical minerals from China, create a fund to support investments in critical minerals, and develop workplace programmes to train Americans on managing the life cycle of the minerals.

The 44-page bill would also create a diplomatic mechanism to support overseas American private-sector projects related to critical minerals; enhance public-private information sharing on “manipulative adversary practices”; and expand collaboration with Nato countries and non-Nato allies and partners.

“Currently, China dominates the critical mineral industry and is actively working to ensure that the US does not catch up,” said Senator Mark Warner, the Virginia Democrat who is the bill’s lead sponsor.

“The US must, alongside allies, take meaningful steps to protect and expand our production and procurement of these critical minerals,” he continued, adding that his legislation would serve as a “road map” to doing so.

Advertisement

Other sponsors of the bill include Democrats Chris Coons of Delaware, Mark Kelly of Arizona and John Hickenlooper of Colorado; Republicans Marco Rubio of Florida, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Thom Tillis of North Carolina; and Angus King, independent of Maine.

Thursday’s bill represents the latest in Washington’s efforts to deal with the fact that China produces and processes the bulk of the world’s rare earths and critical minerals.
Advertisement