What can the West Learn from Japan’s Critical Minerals Strategy? | Mapping Minerals Diplomacy

Japan’s critical minerals strategy, shaped by a 2010 rare earths supply shock, is examined as a model for other advanced economies. The episode traces how Japan built one of the world’s most comprehensive state responses to mineral supply risk, centered on the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

CSIS’s Graceland Basrin speaks with JOGMEC President Michio Daito about how the agency translates national strategy into investment decisions, uses government finance to bridge projects too risky for private capital, and structures offtake agreements—including its rescue of Lynas Rare Earths—to secure long-term supply. The discussion also covers opportunities for allied cooperation with the U.S., Australia, and other partners.

Sources: CSIS (YouTube)