U.S. rallies allies for critical minerals trade bloc called "FORGE," S. Korea to serve as chair

Описание: 美, 中에 맞선 핵심광물무역블록 '포지' 출범 韓, 6월까지 의장국

Meanwhile at a ministerial meeting in Washington, D.C. this past Wednesday attended by Foreign Minister Cho Hyun U.S. Vice President JD Vance called for a critical minerals trading bloc.
Our Moon Hye-ryeon has details.

The United States has formally moved to rally allies into a new trade bloc aimed at reshaping global supply chains for critical minerals resources essential to defense systems and advanced industries and has invited South Korea to take part.
The initiative was unveiled on Wednesday at a ministerial-level meeting in Washington, where U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced plans to establish what he called a critical minerals trading bloc, designed to diversify supply chains and reduce over-reliance on any single country.
Vance said that while much attention is paid to the digital and high-tech economy, growth ultimately depends on tangible resources.

“There’s no realer thing than critical minerals. And I think a lot of us have learned the hard way in some ways over the last year how much our economies depend on these critical minerals.”

At the core of the proposal is a preferential trade zone for allies and partners, featuring price floors for critical minerals.
Under the plan, benchmark prices would be set at each stage of production to reflect what U.S. officials describe as fair market value, with adjustable tariffs acting as a backstop against external shocks.
The meeting was attended by South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, alongside officials from Australia, India, and Japan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is seeking to collaborate with 55 partner countries on what has been dubbed the new "FORGE" initiative, noting that many have already signed on.
He warned that global supply chains for critical minerals are heavily concentrated in the hands of one country, leaving them vulnerable to geopolitical leverage and disruptions ranging from political instability to pandemics.
The State Department also said South Korea will serve as chair of the FORGE initiative through June, building on its leadership role in the Minerals Security Partnership, or MSP.
Rubio thanked South Korea for filling a leadership gap ahead of FORGE’s launch, noting that Seoul played a leading role in the MSP — a multilateral partnership involving 16 countries and the European Union aimed at strengthening global critical mineral supply chains.
The push underscores how critical minerals are increasingly viewed not just as commodities, but as strategic assets — central to economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and national security.
Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

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2026-02-05, 17:00 (KST)