U.S. rallies allies for critical minerals trade bloc called "FORGE", invites S. Korea to join скачать в хорошем качестве

U.S. rallies allies for critical minerals trade bloc called "FORGE", invites S. Korea to join

美, 핵심광물무역블록 '포지이니셔티브' 출범 中희토류독점 대응 Washington is stepping up its push to secure the raw materials that power everything from weapons systems to electric vehicles, as it calls on allies.. including South Korea, to join a new trade bloc for critical minerals. The move is seen as an apparent effort to defend against China's stranglehold on the key minerals. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. The United States has formally moved to rally allies into a new trade bloc aimed at reshaping global supply chains for critical minerals ---resources essential to defense systems and advanced industries ---and has invited South Korea to take part. The initiative was unveiled on Wednesday at a ministerial-level meeting in Washington, where U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced plans to establish what he called a critical minerals trading bloc, designed to diversify supply chains and reduce over-reliance on any single country. Vance said that while much attention is paid to the digital and high-tech economy, growth ultimately depends on tangible resources. “There’s no realer thing than critical minerals. And I think a lot of us have learned the hard way in some ways over the last year how much our economies depend on these critical minerals.” At the core of the proposal is a preferential trade zone for allies and partners, featuring price floors for critical minerals. Under the plan, benchmark prices would be set at each stage of production to reflect what U.S. officials describe as fair market value, with adjustable tariffs acting as a backstop against external shocks. The meeting was attended by South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, alongside officials from Australia, India, and Japan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is seeking to collaborate with 55 partner countries on what has been dubbed the new "FORGE" initiative, noting that many have already signed on. He warned that global supply chains for critical minerals are heavily concentrated in the hands of one country, leaving them vulnerable to geopolitical leverage and disruptions ranging from political instability to pandemics. While Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand have reportedly signed cooperation frameworks with Washington, South Korea has yet to do so and is still reviewing its participation. The push underscores how critical minerals are increasingly viewed not just as commodities, but as strategic assets — central to economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and national security. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News. #Critical_Minerals #FORGE_Initiative #Trade_Bloc #핵심광물 #포지이니셔티브 #무역블록 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Youtube :    / Канал   📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2026-02-05, 10:00 (KST)