New Delhi: India and Japan have announced that their partnership in critical minerals hinged on two Biden-era agreements—the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)—in what could be perceived as a snub at US President Donald Trump.
“India and Japan are working together to bolster critical minerals supply chains through partnership in the Mineral Security Partnership and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and Quad Critical Minerals Initiatives,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a fact-sheet on India-Japan ties, highlighting the two Biden-era international frameworks.
The MSP was set up in June 2022, welcoming any country committed to responsible critical mineral supply chains to support economic development and climate resilience. In the MSP, there are 14 member states, including India, Japan, the US, Australia, South Korea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU).
The partnership between India and Japan was formed in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, after COVID-19 highlighted global chokepoints in the trade of critical minerals and that China and Russia are the largest refiners of the metals. Beijing dominates the supply of lithium and other rare earth elements, while Moscow exports nickel, aluminium, and platinum.
The changing geopolitical tides led to the Biden administration’s attempt to create frameworks with like-minded countries to build resilience in supply chains. India joined the MSP in 2023. Similarly, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was launched by the US, along with 12 countries, in May 2022.
It is a grouping accounting for at least 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the US are in the group.
The member states focus on reaching a consensus on four pillars—trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy. India is not a member of one of the pillars—trade. IPEF aims to enhance cooperation between member states on each of the four pillars to build economic resilience to counter China’s dominance in several of these fields.
However, the Biden-era frameworks have evolved in the last nine months since President Donald J. Trump assumed power in the White House. Biden-era agreements have rarely found any mentions under the Trump administration’s foreign policy initiatives.
The Trump administration has underlined its continued interest in the Quad, with at least two foreign ministerials held since January 2025.
Ties between India and the US have hit a rough patch in recent months. Trump imposed tariffs of 50 percent on India for its unfair trade practices and continued purchase of Russian oil. Similarly, Trump has attempted to redraw the global trading regime, which had aided in Japan’s swift recovery post-World War II.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also Read: Japan targets $68 bn investment in India over 10 yrs, both to set up NSA-level dialogue mechanism