ThinkTankWeekly

Leapfrogging China’s Critical Minerals Dominance

CFR | 2026-02-22 | economy

Topics: AI, China, Climate, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Russia, Trade, United States

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English Summary

The United States should 'leapfrog' China’s critical mineral dominance by prioritizing disruptive innovation, waste recovery, and recycling instead of attempting to out-mine or out-process China's entrenched capacity. The report argues that traditional mining projects are too slow to mitigate immediate geopolitical risks, whereas breakthroughs in materials science and AI-enabled extraction from industrial waste offer faster, more resilient paths to independence. Key policy recommendations include launching a national innovation strategy, bridging financing gaps for deep-tech startups, and coordinating with G7 allies to secure circular mineral supply chains.

中文摘要

美國應透過優先發展顛覆性創新、廢棄物回收與再生利用,來「跨越」中國在關鍵礦產領域的主導地位,而非試圖在採礦或加工產能上與中國既有的深厚實力競爭。報告指出,傳統採礦項目的進度過於緩慢,難以緩解緊迫的地緣政治風險;相比之下,材料科學的突破以及人工智慧驅動的工業廢棄物提取技術,能為實現自主提供更快速且具韌性的路徑。關鍵政策建議包括:啟動國家創新戰略、彌補深科技新創公司的融資缺口,以及與 G7 盟友協調以確保循環礦產供應鏈。

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