U.S., Japan reach deal on vital minerals for EV batteries

electric vehicles using metals processed in Japan qualify for tax incentives under President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

So as long any supply chain passed to be processed in Japan no matter what is the percentage of that processing will qualify of that incentives? Even from mineral from troubling countries? Let's make Japan and America great again!

This means that Chinese producers will use Japan as a proxy to gain tax advantages. No wonder why BYD is launching their EV cars in an extremely anti-EV Japan. Chinese producers probably have their foresight into this deal. Chinese companies have been steadily rising in influence within Japan, and many core assets are already owned by them.

However, the Democrats are also going against Biden for this betrayal of the "build in America" plan. Nothing is solid yet!

and people wanting to discuss the topic get locked out. Why are the same couple of people allowed to do that?

There are some excellent posts here from time to time but they apprehended by partisan spats and the comment section is disabled.

 A majority of global lithium production comes from China, Australia, Argentina and Chile, while Russia dominates the global nickel market and the Democratic Republic of Congo is the world’s largest cobalt producer.

I will add Iran and India. There is news about the geological survey of India’s recent finding in which they have found 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium inferred resources in Jammu and Kashmir. This is going to be a game changer for the economy there.

The availability of Lithium is good news but it needs to be refined before it can be used in batteries. More than 85% of Lithium refining capacity is in China.

as well as like-minded countries

read: "Not China or Russia."

 A majority of global lithium production comes from China, Australia, Argentina and Chile,

Maybe today but not in the future. California especially and Nevada both have large deposits coming on line.