cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/49907503
Japan and France agreed to strengthen support for rare earths supply chains on Wednesday, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported, in the latest moves by both countries to lessen dependence on the world’s dominant supplier, China.
During French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to Japan for talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, officials signed a roadmap to cooperate on critical minerals supply chains, NHK said.
“We cannot rely solely on specific countries, especially China,” French Finance Minister Roland Lescure was quoted as saying by NHK.
The two sides also agreed to secure raw material supplies for a rare earths refining project in southern France, called Caremag, the broadcaster said.
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