US DOE and Japan to Collaborate on Rare Earths
November 18, 2010
NDTV reports that the US and Japan are set to collaborate on clean technologies and technology metals.
The NDTV transcript follows:
On Thursday, Japan and the U.S. reaffirmed the two nations will strengthen cooperation on the development of technology to create clean energy and alternatives to rare earth metals.
[Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy]:
"The United States and Japan have enjoyed a long and deep friendship, particularly in the areas of scientific cooperation and energy; two areas that the Department of Energy plays a major role in the United States."
Japan and the U.S. also agreed to cooperate on research, including rare earths mining and alternatives to rare earths.
[Akihiro Ohata, Japanese Trade Minister]:
"Both countries will actively cooperate in research - as well as policy making and funding - on materials indispensable to the production of clean energy, such as rare earth and nuclear power."
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Japanese Trade Minister Akihiro Ohata signed a jointed statement in Tokyo.
They also agreed to look into clean energy technologies, including the establishment of a team to promote electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid cars.
Earlier this month, Japan and the U.S. agreed on the need to address the problem of relying too much on a single country for production and supply of rare earth minerals.
China, which accounts for 97 percent of the global output of rare earth minerals, strictly controls their trade, despite pressure from the U.S. and Japan to loosen export constraints.
