Vance urges allies to join critical minerals bloc to counter China

WASHINGTON — U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday called on allies and partners to join an envisioned critical minerals trading bloc, casting them as being “on the same team,” as Washington steps up efforts to counter China’s formidable influence over key resources. Speaking at a multilateral meeting on critical minerals in the U.S. capital, Vance said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking a “preferential trade zone,” which will maintain “price floors” through “adjustable tariffs” and guard itself from “external disruptions.” The proposal for the bloc came as South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and top officials from more than 50 countries gathered at the State Department for the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, a meeting aimed at reinforcing and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals that are key to the production of high-tech military and consumer products. “We want members to form a trading bloc among allies and partners, one that guarantees American access to American industrial might while also expanding production across the entir

Read Full Article