US and India Launch Taskforce to Break China's Mineral Grip

This collaboration follows a high-level framework signed by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aimed at institutionalizing cooperation in mining and rare earth processing. The taskforce functions under the broader Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, which attempts to stabilize resource ecosystems across the Indo-Pacific region.

Five core sectors have been identified for immediate integration: lithium refining, feedstock corridors, synthetic graphite production, magnet manufacturing, and mineral recycling. Rahul Sharma, managing director of the USIBC, noted that this synergy allows both nations to address vulnerabilities by merging industrial scale with advanced research. To move beyond rhetoric, the body has established four work streams tasked with managing bilateral investment, accelerating regulatory progress, and fostering joint innovation in secondary-source recovery. The US-India Business Council will oversee the process, coordinating with government stakeholders to transform these strategic goals into operational reality.