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Africa's Resources Key to Reducing Washington's Dependence on China, US Report Says

© AP PhotoExcavators and people surround the scene of the miners rescue operation on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 in Chingola, around 400 kilometres north of the capital Lusaka, Zambia.
Excavators and people surround the scene of the miners rescue operation on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 in Chingola, around 400 kilometres north of the capital Lusaka, Zambia. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 09.04.2024
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Last November, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the US remains vulnerable to disruptions in the supply of critical minerals whose production for the US economy remains centered in China.
The US should develop trade ties with African countries to reduce dependence on China for critical minerals and strengthen national security, the United States Institute of Peace, a Washington-based think tank, said in a new report.
The report noted that the US is now heavily dependent on imports of critical minerals such as cobalt, graphite, and manganese.
"Especially concerning is that the United States is at or near 100 percent reliant on 'foreign entities of concern'—mainly the People’s Republic of China—for key critical minerals," the think tank said. "It’s common sense not to be overly reliant on one supplier, especially a top economic and geopolitical competitor, for any commodity or product."
In this vein, the US Institute of Peace has identified Africa as a continent that "can play an important role in strengthening the security of the US critical minerals supply chain."
"If the United States wants to remain competitive on the global stage, it must step up its efforts to diversify US critical minerals supply chains, including in Africa," the report said.
The Treasury Building is viewed in Washington, May 4, 2021.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 15.03.2024
Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Institute also admitted that "China is outpacing the US in terms of resources and political attention to Africa."
The think tank stressed that the list of US economic competitors in Africa is growing, with the Gulf States and other countries increasing their interest in Africa's key minerals.

The institute's conclusion was that the US government must act in Africa with "increased speed, focus, and decisiveness," including by "tactically addressing Chinese mining in Africa" and investing in commercial diplomacy.

Top US priorities in Africa should be increased cooperation with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the top largest copper producers, according to the US Institute of Peace.
Last month, Wally Adeyemo, the US Deputy Treasury Secretary, told the media that in a bid to reduce reliance on Chinese dominance and mitigate Russian influence in critical mineral markets, Washington is eyeing Africa as a key player.
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