US State Department Launches FORGE With 54 Countries to Counter China's Mineral Grip
Updated
Updated · Resources · Aug 17
US State Department Launches FORGE With 54 Countries to Counter China's Mineral Grip
1 articles · Updated · Resources · Aug 17
Summary
The State Department unveiled FORGE at a February 2026 White House critical minerals ministerial attended by representatives from 54 countries, expanding a Western effort to build supply chains outside China.
New analysis spanning 20 mineral and downstream products across 88 countries from 2012 to 2024 argues the push is urgent because supply chains have become more concentrated in China despite years of diversification efforts.
China and Chile controlled 90% of refined lithium supply in 2025, while China held nearly 60% of the global lithium-ion battery import market in 2024 and more than 80% of lithium oxide and hydroxide.
US reliance also deepened: China supplied a value-weighted average 70% of US imports across the five largest critical-mineral markets in 2024, up from 45% in 2012.
FORGE succeeds the smaller Minerals Security Partnership and aims to coordinate investment while shielding non-Chinese producers from dumping, smuggling and tariff evasion, though any alternative network will take years and likely cost more.
With China silently buying up unmined global assets, is the multi-billion dollar allied effort to secure critical minerals already decades too late?
As Western nations scramble to build alternative mineral supply chains, will the astronomical costs of diversification permanently cripple the global tech industry?
If advanced defense systems rely on Chinese-refined materials, could a sudden export ban instantly paralyze allied military capabilities without a single shot fired?
Breaking China’s Mineral Monopoly: The 2026 Launch of FORGE, Project Vault, and the Global Race for Critical Supply Chain Security
Overview
The report details how escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, marked by high tariffs and China's export bans on key minerals, exposed severe vulnerabilities in Western supply chains. This crisis forced automakers to halt production and highlighted China's dominance in critical minerals. In response, the U.S. launched the FORGE alliance and Project Vault, aiming to secure mineral supplies through international cooperation, price floors, and strategic reserves. However, challenges remain, including slow domestic mining due to regulatory delays and a shortage of skilled workers. Meanwhile, China retaliated with strict investment controls and targeted sanctions, intensifying the global competition over critical resources.