EXCLUSIVE: Japan, U.S. to Confirm Cooperation on Key Minerals

Tokyo, March 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump will confirm cooperation for a U.S.-led trade bloc initiative on supply chains for key minerals at a bilateral summit in Washington on Thursday, Jiji Press learned Friday. This follows the two leaders’ agreement last October to work together on securing supply chains for key minerals, including rare earths. The Japanese and U.S. governments are working to issue a joint document on the matter, informed sources said. Both Japan and the United States urgently need to diversify supply chains for key minerals, as they rely on China for them. At her upcoming summit with Trump, Takaichi also plans to discuss Japan-U.S. cooperation on mining rare earths off Minamitorishima, a remote Tokyo island in the Pacific, the sources said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]