Washington (EFE).- The United States proposed on Wednesday a trade bloc of allied countries to strengthen critical mineral supply chains, as part of its plan to reduce China’s monopoly in this sector.
”We want members to form a trading bloc among allies and partners, one that guarantees American access to American industrial might while also expanding production across the entire zone,” said Vice President JD Vance during a ministerial meeting on critical minerals at the State Department.
The meeting was attended by foreign ministers and representatives from 55 countries, including Germany, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Qatar, Ecuador, France, India, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Mexico, Norway, Paraguay, Ukraine, and the European Union.
The call for cooperation is unusual for US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has shown little interest in multilateralism and has favored bilateral negotiations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted that the concentration of the global supply of critical minerals and processed materials in a single country (referring to China) could become a “tool of pressure” in geopolitics.
The head of US diplomacy defended the creation of “reliable and diverse” global supply chains by promoting new investments and stressed that the government has already mobilized billions of dollars, including the creation of a new strategic mineral reserve.
Vance stated that several nations have joined the trading bloc, which aims to stabilize prices and will offer members financing and essential minerals. He expressed hope that more countries would agree to join after the meeting.
The EU had already announced its intention to negotiate a cooperation agreement with the United States on critical raw materials.
So-called critical minerals, such as aluminum, lithium, and zinc, are essential inputs for the manufacture of semiconductors, state-of-the-art batteries, and a wide range of technological products that Washington considers key to the economy and national security.
The summit took place on Wednesday, as Trump held a call with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, which he described as “excellent.”
They discussed trade issues, Taiwan, the war in Ukraine, and Iran, as well as the US president’s visit to China scheduled for April. EFE
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