US, India Join Hands To Counter China's Supply Chain Dominance

The US-India Critical Minerals Security Taskforce held its inaugural meeting last week, uniting 17 leading companies from both nations to advance collaboration in critical minerals processing, manufacturing, and technology. The initiative follows a bilateral framework signed in April by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, formalizing cooperation in mining and processing of critical minerals and rare earths. The taskforce has identified five priority areas: lithium refining, cathode materials, feedstock corridors, battery-grade synthetic graphite, and rare-earth processing, reflecting complementary strengths between the two countries. The group will operate through four work streams: supply chain security, technology innovation, investment facilitation, and regulatory coordination. These efforts aim to address global supply chain vulnerabilities amid rising demand for lithium and rare earths due to clean energy transitions. The taskforce aligns with the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, reinforcing Indo-Pacific supply chain diversification. Rahul Sharma, managing director of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), emphasized the strategic opportunity to combine India’s industrial capabilities with US capital and technology. The USIBC, representing over 200 companies, will continue engaging stakeholders to develop actionable recommendations and accelerate partnerships. The move underscores both nations’ efforts to reduce reliance on single-country supply chains, particularly China, while fostering resilience in critical mineral processing. The taskforce’s work will focus on joint research, investment structuring, and policy alignment to support implementation of existing frameworks.