Japan and US to discuss joint rare earths development

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi says joint rare earths development with the US will be discussed at this week’s summit, targeting Pacific seabed resources

TOKYO: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan will discuss joint development of deep-sea rare earths with the United States during her upcoming summit with President Donald Trump.

The talks will focus on resources near Minamitorishima island, where Japan recently retrieved sediment from depths of 6,000 metres.

Takaichi told parliament that concrete bilateral discussions on marine mineral cooperation began in February.

“The rare earths in waters around Minamitorishima are one of the targets of this effort,” she stated.

She added that the specifics of the cooperation will be discussed at the Japan-US summit scheduled for Thursday.

The mission used the deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu to collect sediment containing the 17 critical metals.

These metals are essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, hard drives, and missiles.

Both nations are actively seeking to reduce their reliance on China for these strategic minerals.

Beijing recently blocked exports of “dual-use” items to Japan following Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan.

This move heightened Japanese concerns over potential rare earth supply disruptions.

China has historically used its dominance in the rare earths market for geopolitical leverage.

Last month, the US unveiled a critical minerals partnership with the European Union and Japan.

The partnership was formed amid growing global concerns about China’s control over the sector.

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