US, Philippines Eye Agreement to Cut China Nickel Dominance
- Nations are wary over Beijing’s grip on supply from Indonesia
- Nickel is crucial metal needed for many electric car batteries
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The U.S. and the Philippines are in discussions over ways to prevent China from dominating nickel processing in the Southeast Asian nation, a key supplier of the metal that’s crucial for electric vehicle batteries.
One measure under consideration is a trilateral arrangement through which the Philippines would supply raw nickel material, the U.S. would provide financing, and a third country such as Japan, South Korea or Australia would offer the technology required for smelting and refining, according to people familiar with the matter.