THE MOSAIC APPROACH: a Multidimensional Strategy for Strengthening America’s CriticalMinerals Supply ChainReport prepared byDuncan Wood, Alexandra Helfgott, Mary D’Amico, and Erik RomaninSUPPLYCHAIN
l 3 Executive SummaryThe United States faces a troubling scenario when it comes to the supply chain for critical minerals. Rapidly increasing demand, under-developed national resources, intense international competition, and years of ne-glect in this issue area place the U.S. at a distinct disadvantage vis-à-vis China in securing access to the met-als and Rare Earth Elements that are vital for the energy transition and for geopolitical ambitions. This paper reflects the dialogue sustained by a high-level group of stakeholders in the summer of 2021 and argues that the United States must take a number of key steps to make the critical minerals supply chain more resilient.Central among these steps are: ●Government actions: ✦Explicitly recognize the link between critical minerals on the one hand and geopolitical and cli-mate goals on the other ✦Prioritize the development of national resources and processing facilities in the United States, while also embracing new technological solutions ✦Focus on strengthening human capital in the critical minerals sector ✦Streamline the permitting process for opening new mines ✦Consider the stockpiling of critical minerals ●Private sector actions ✦Lower the risk profile of mining for investors to facilitate investment in the industry ✦Seek long-term, fixed price contracts to guarantee supply ✦Invest in new technologies to lower costs ✦Invest in human capital through universities and community colleges, as well as lifelong learning approaches ✦Highlight how mining contributes to a clean energy future ●International actions ✦The U.S. must work with international allies and partners to develop new resources ✦Leverage the USMCA and strong mining industries within North America ✦Work with international partners to create a global regime for critical minerals that emphasizes minimum standards for ESG
4 l The Mosaic Approach: a multidimensional strategy for strengthening America’s critical minerals supply chainIntroductionIn the summer of 2021, the Wilson Center convened a Critical Minerals Working Group, made up of stake-holders from industry, academia and civil society, to examine the vulnerabilities that exist in the supply chain, and to discuss how the private sector and gov-ernment can address them. This report draws on the major insights and recommendations of the impres-sive knowledge and experience of the working group and offers an alternative channel that feeds into the stakeholder engagement process called for in Presi-dent Biden’s review of America’s supply chains.The working group identified three main vulnerabili-ties in the supply chain. First, the United States must face the ever-rising demand for critica...
