On March 28, 2023, the United States and Japan signed an agreement on trade in critical minerals used in electric vehicle (“EV”) batteries (“Agreement Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America on Strengthening Critical Minerals Supply Chains”). The agreement builds on the United States’ limited trade accord with
First Round of CHIPS Funding Announced
On February 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the first funding opportunity under the CHIPS and Science Act (“CHIPS Act”), bipartisan legislation signed into law in 2022. The funding opportunity provides “manufacturing incentives to restore U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, support good-paying jobs across the semiconductor supply chain, and advance U.S. economic and
Biden Administration to Take Action on U.S. Outbound Investment Screening
Investment screening has become an increasingly important topic for the United States and its allies, as concerns grow about the accumulation of sensitive information and technologies by strategic adversaries like China and Russia. The Biden administration is currently contemplating taking action in the near future, likely in the form of an executive order, to establish
President Biden Issues Directive to Boost Critical Mineral Production
Last week, President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act (“DPA”) to expand domestic production of certain critical minerals involved in the manufacture of large capacity batteries. The five minerals specifically identified in the President’s memorandum are lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese.
The DPA allows the President to expedite and expand the supply of materials