Gracelin Baskaran

Gracelin Baskaran, the Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at CSIS, dives into China's recent halt of critical minerals exports to the U.S. She highlights the strategic implications of this move for both consumer products and defense industries, emphasizing national security risks. The conversation also spotlights vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains and bipartisan efforts to reduce dependence on China. Baskaran further discusses how this affects global semiconductor markets and the automotive sector, revealing complex geopolitical tensions.

Gracelin Baskaran, a mining economist and founding director of the Project on Critical Mineral Security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, shares insights into the U.S. and Ukraine's negotiations over rare earth minerals. She explains why these minerals, pivotal for technology, aren’t as rare as believed and discusses the U.S.'s struggle to compete with China's production. Baskaran also highlights that recycling is only part of the solution. The conversation takes a humorous turn with musings on dreaming and Canadian travel boycotts.

Gracelin Baskaran, Director of the Critical Minerals and Security Program at CSIS, discusses the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal and its potential implications for global resource security. She explains Ukraine's decision to proceed without security guarantees and the risks it introduces for private investors. Baskaran draws parallels to China’s mineral agreements in the DRC while emphasizing the urgency of securing U.S. supply chains. Listeners also get a sneak peek into her forthcoming book, which addresses critical minerals' impact on the U.S. economy and national security.