Navigating the Critical Minerals Challenge: Insights from Industry Leaders

China controls much of the global market for minerals that serve as essential inputs into a wide range of modern technologies, including for defense capabilities, creating a dangerous supply vulnerability for the United States. Washington has taken steps over the past several years to reduce its dependence on China, including outreach to resource rich nations, recycling and recovery programs, reviewing mining permitting laws, and providing financing for mining and mineral processing. But many of these efforts will take years to see fruition, and the U.S. dependence on China is likely to continue for some time. BENS recently interviewed three industry leaders for their perspectives on this complex challenge: Jon Evans, President and CEO of Lithium Americas; Selina Hayes, Founder and CEO of Hayes Group International; and Anthony Weiss, Executive Director at TechMet USA.