Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Supplies: Securing Critical Minerals in Canada and the United States

On January 9, 2020, Canada and the United States finalized their Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration and on June 17, 2020, amid uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 crisis, the two countries came together to reaffirm their commitment to the collaboration. The objectives of the new joint action plan are to improve the security of critical minerals in Canada and the United States and ensure that U.S. and Canadian mineral industries are competitive and remain stable into the future.

Critical minerals are minerals that have been deemed essential to economic and national security, are used in vulnerable supply chains, or are a key part of the manufacturing a product. Critical industries in both nations depend on critical minerals supplies. In the United States, for example, the industries that rely on these minerals the most are telecommunications and electronics, energy, defence, aerospace, and transportation. Critical minerals are also used often and can be found everywhere in the daily lives of Canadians and Americans, from potash used in fertilizers to helium used for MRIs to strontium used in fireworks. Where are Canada and the United States most vulnerable when it comes to critical minerals? What countries do Canada and the United States rely on to supply critical minerals? What do critical mineral industries need to stay afloat and competitive in North America? And what else can be done to maintain our strong cooperation to facilitate critical mineral security?

The Canada Institute is hosting a panel with key experts from both sides of the border for a webcast briefing to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the Canada-U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Mineral Supplies. During the webcast, the panelists will talk about the inherent weaknesses and risks of the current Canadian and U.S. critical mineral supply systems, how both countries can work together to secure critical minerals and keep relevant industries competitive, and what a Join Action Agreement accomplishes for collaboration between Canada and the United States.

Submit your questions by email (Canada@wilsoncenter.org) or by tagging us on Twitter (@CanadaInstitute).