US Accelerates Critical Minerals Strategy Against Chinese Dominance

China's dominance of over 85% of critical-mineral refining capabilities represents a significant vulnerability for US supply chains, particularly for battery materials essential to energy transition goals. The US government is actively pushing to establish domestic refining capabilities, with companies like Nth Cycle developing technology to accelerate the timeline for bringing these operations online. This strategic shift aims to reduce American dependence on Chinese processing and strengthen the nation's industrial resilience.