How the West can shore up its strategic metals supply chain (Huw McKay, The Interpreter)

It is increasingly clear that stockpiling of strategic metals (defined as metals essential to military applications and/or high-end mixed-use technology) needs to become a major plank of national strategies for military preparedness and mobilisation. China’s dominant position in the processing segment of the value chain of strategic metals is well documented, and its conduct with respect to export controls increases the urgency. Here, the West suffers from an inability to provide the right incentive structures to motivate the required investments to make this current point of weakness a future point of strength. But there is a way through.

How the West can shore up its strategic metals supply chain | Lowy Institute