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India, US sign pact to work together on vital battery mineral supply chains

Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo signed an agreement on Thursday to work together on enhancing supply chains in the two countries for lithium, cobalt and other crucial minerals utilized in electrical cars and clean energy applications.

The Commerce Department said in a statement that the memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed throughout Goyal's check out to Washington, was targeted at constructing resilience in the sector for each country.

Concern locations of focus include recognizing equipment, services, policies and best practices to facilitate the equally useful commercial development of U.S. and Indian vital minerals expedition, extraction, processing and refining, recycling and recovery, Commerce said.

Goyal, speaking at a Center for Strategic and International Researches in Washington after the signing, described the MOU as a multi-dimensional partnership that would consist of open supply chains for materials, innovation advancement and financial investment streams to promote green energy.

He said the U.S. and India would also require to consist of 3rd countries in their engagement, including mineral-rich nations in Africa and South America.

The MOU, which Reuters

initially reported

was in the deal with Monday, falls far short of a complete critical minerals trade deal that would permit India to benefit from the $7,500 U.S. electric vehicle tax credit.

Japan in 2015

signed a deal

with the U.S. Trade Representative's office that enables Japanese car manufacturers to more totally take part in the credit, aiming to decrease U.S.-Japanese mineral dependence on China and prohibiting bilateral export controls on lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese and other minerals.

(source: Reuters)