US-EU seek deal on minerals used in EVs in race for green

The US and European Union are seeking a preliminary agreement on the supply of so-called critical minerals used in electric vehicles, a step toward Washington’s efforts to reduce the global reliance on China for materials necessary for green-energy technologies.

The agreement, if finalised, also has a shorter-term benefit of defusing a trade dispute between the US and Europe by allowing EU companies access to some of benefits included in President Joe Biden’s massive climate subsidy plan.