The U.S. used to be a global leader in lithium processing, but it lost its market control to China in the early 2000s. Since then, China has developed its own lithium supply chain, controlling 55% of the market. Now, the U.S. is trying to secure its own supply in a race for independence.

Lithium is a critical component in batteries and the world’s transition to green energy. Demand for the light metal has surged and is expected to reach nearly 2.5 million metric tons by 2028.

WSJ explores China’s major supply chain vulnerability and the U.S.’s long road to build its own.

0:00 Lithium’s importance
0:52 China’s strengths: processing
2:41 China’s vulnerability and the U.S.’s potential strength
7:01 The U.S.’s slow-growing domestic supply chain

U.S. vs. China
This original video series explores the rivalry between the two superpowers’ competing efforts to develop the technologies that are reshaping our world.

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