Japan Proposes Strengthening Rare Earth Cooperation with the US

According to a report from Mining.com, Japan aims to strengthen its economic ties with the US by establishing partnerships in critical minerals, including rare earths.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that on May 29, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed this idea during a phone call with former US President Donald Trump, as part of discussions to reduce the US-Japan trade deficit.

The newspaper reported that the negotiations focused on enhancing cooperation in economic security, including rare earths.

The Yomiuri Shimbun, citing sources, said that the Japanese government is considering providing technical support for the processing and refining of rare earths. Another idea is to process these minerals in experienced third countries.

The cooperation areas proposed by Ishiba also include semiconductors and shipbuilding, which could also become strong bargaining chips in the negotiations.

Japan has the largest number of semiconductor production plants in the world. The US ranks second and has been eager to expand production to increase exports.