Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the accelerating global carbon neutrality process and the increasing demand for critical minerals driven by the transition to clean energy technologies, highlighting the complex geopolitical competition among major countries in securing these resources [2][3]. Group 1: Importance of Critical Minerals - Critical minerals play an irreplaceable role in high-tech industries, clean energy technologies, and national defense, making supply security a key strategic consideration for countries [5]. - The global energy transition heavily relies on critical minerals, which are essential for ensuring energy security and supporting economic development [6]. Group 2: Demand and Supply Dynamics - The demand for critical minerals is surging, with lithium demand projected to grow nearly 30% in 2024, significantly exceeding the 10% annual growth rate seen in the 2010s [3]. - The demand for nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements is expected to increase by 6% to 8% in 2024, primarily driven by applications in electric vehicles, battery storage, renewable energy, and power grids [3]. - The rapid expansion of investments in electric grids in China has been a major factor in the recent growth of copper demand [15]. Group 3: Geopolitical Strategies - Countries are increasingly focusing on critical mineral supply chain security as a core policy issue, employing legislation, policy guidance, and international cooperation to ensure stable supplies [10]. - The U.S. has implemented several legislative actions to enhance domestic supply chain resilience, including the establishment of the Critical Minerals Security Strategy [10]. - The European Union has introduced the Critical Raw Materials Act to ensure the security and sustainability of critical mineral supplies [10]. Group 4: Geographic Distribution and Market Characteristics - The geographical distribution of critical mineral reserves is highly concentrated, with significant shares located in specific regions, such as lithium in the "Lithium Triangle" of South America [13]. - The production of certain critical minerals, like cobalt, is dominated by a few countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for 86% of cobalt production [13]. - Western multinational mining companies dominate the ownership of critical mineral resources, leveraging their technological and experiential advantages over developing countries [14]. Group 5: Price Trends - Despite the rapid increase in demand, the supply of critical minerals has also surged, leading to downward pressure on prices, particularly for battery metals [15]. - Lithium prices soared eightfold between 2021 and 2022 but have since dropped by over 80% in 2023 [15]. - Prices for graphite, cobalt, and nickel are expected to decline by 10% to 20% in 2024 [15].

自本月初与日本达成的贸易协议正式生效以来，美国政府正探讨如何利用日本承诺的5500亿美元投资重 振本国制造业。 目前特朗普政府正与日本团队讨论过使用部分5500亿美元帮助在美建厂，但情况依旧变化多端，已有十 余个提案仍在考虑。比如，美国总统特朗普与美商务部部长卢特尼克提出在美建设燃气轮机及仿制药生 产设施、投资新建核电站与能源管道等选项。 当前，美国制造业整体表现疲软。本周最新数据显示，美国9月纽约联储制造业指数从11.9大幅下滑 至-8.7。新订单与发货量显著减少，企业资本支出意愿持续低迷，招聘活动与投资意向仍未复苏，消费 者信心亦未见明显改善。 牛津经济研究院高级经济学家帕莱什（Nico Palesch）此前对第一财经记者表示，当前很难有信心预测 美国制造业或所谓再工业化的实质性回归。 "一方面，制造商作为潜在投资主体，普遍对销售前景持悲观态度，因此不太可能大规模扩建产能。另 一方面，近年来的工厂建设热潮主要得益于拜登政府时期的《通胀削减法案》和《芯片与科学法案》， 而特朗普政府削减了相关补贴，仅靠关税难以支撑广泛的制造业复兴。"帕莱什说。 用关税威胁投资 本月初，特朗普签署行政命令，正式实施美日贸易协议 ...

Group 1 - The third Africa Critical Minerals Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, focusing on the theme of "The True Value of Africa's Critical Minerals" with nearly a thousand industry professionals, policymakers, investors, and researchers participating [1] - The summit aims to enhance Africa's position in the global critical minerals supply chain and transition African countries from "raw material exporters" to "regional processing hubs" to support sustainable economic growth and improve livelihoods [1] Group 2 - Africa holds approximately 30% of the world's proven reserves of critical minerals, with significant advantages in strategic minerals such as cobalt, platinum group metals, lithium, and manganese [2] - However, challenges such as limited exploration capabilities, weak local processing capacity, and lack of infrastructure and funding hinder the development of Africa's critical minerals industry [2] - The African Union plans to officially release the "African Green Minerals Strategy" by the end of 2024, focusing on four pillars: mineral development, talent and technology capacity building, local value addition, and mineral governance [2] Group 3 - Advancing processing systems and industrial chain construction could generate hundreds of billions of dollars in economic output annually and create millions of jobs in Africa [3] - Many African countries are accelerating the digital and automated transformation of the critical minerals industry to improve exploration efficiency and reduce production costs [3] - Digitalization and smart technologies are enhancing the efficiency of Africa's minerals sector, although challenges in technology accessibility and infrastructure still exist [3] Group 4 - China continues to support the local value chain construction of Africa's critical minerals, as outlined in the "China-Africa Cooperation Forum - Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027)" [3] - Chinese enterprises are collaborating with partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to build cobalt and copper smelting facilities, and investments in Zimbabwe are helping it become an exporter of steel products [3] - The partnership aims to enhance Africa's smelting and processing capabilities, retaining profits and job opportunities locally while fostering cooperation in the digital transformation of the critical minerals sector [3]

Group 1 - The third African Critical Minerals Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, focusing on the theme of "The True Value of Africa's Critical Minerals," aiming to enhance Africa's position in the global critical minerals supply chain and transition from raw material exporters to regional processing hubs [1] - Africa holds approximately 30% of the world's proven reserves of critical minerals, with significant advantages in cobalt, platinum group metals, lithium, and manganese [2] - The African Union plans to release the "African Green Minerals Strategy" by the end of 2024, which will focus on mineral development, talent and technology capacity building, local value addition, and mineral governance [2] Group 2 - Advancing processing systems and industrial chain construction could generate hundreds of billions of dollars in economic output annually and create millions of jobs in Africa [3] - Many African countries are accelerating the digital and automated transformation of the critical minerals industry to improve exploration efficiency and reduce production costs [3] - China continues to support the local value chain construction of Africa's critical minerals, with initiatives outlined in the "China-Africa Cooperation Forum - Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027)" [3]

Core Points - Canadian Prime Minister Carney announced the launch of five key infrastructure projects to address the impact of U.S. trade policies [1] - The total investment for these projects exceeds 60 billion CAD (approximately 43 billion USD) [1] - The projects include LNG plant expansion in British Columbia, small modular reactor construction in Ontario, Montreal port container terminal expansion, and two critical mineral development projects in Saskatchewan and British Columbia [1] - A future development project includes a high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City [1] - Carney's government established a key project office in August to streamline regulatory assessments and financing support, aiming to reduce project approval times to within two years [1] - The initiative is a response to the economic impact of the Trump administration's trade policies, with Canada's GDP contracting by 1.6% year-on-year in Q2, marking the first decline in seven quarters [1] - The unemployment rate in August reached 7.1%, the highest level since 2016 outside of the pandemic [1] - Since taking office in March, Carney has emphasized the need for significant infrastructure investment and productivity improvements to revitalize the economy and reduce dependence on the U.S. [1]

Core Viewpoint - The South Korean government announced a support plan totaling 45.8 trillion KRW to enhance supply chain resilience, focusing on key industries such as batteries, semiconductors, and critical minerals [1] Financial Support Details - The government will provide a total of 45.8 trillion KRW in low-interest policy financing, which includes 10 trillion KRW from the Supply Chain Stabilization Fund, 13.3 trillion KRW from the Korea Export-Import Bank, 18 trillion KRW from the Korea Industrial Bank, and 4.5 trillion KRW from the Korea Small and Medium Enterprises Bank [1] - Additionally, two public-private investment tools will be launched: a fund of 1.8 trillion KRW focusing on leading companies and a fund of 600 billion KRW aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises in the materials, parts, and equipment sectors [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Trump family is expanding its business portfolio with the IPO application of New America Acquisition I Corp, aiming to raise $300 million by issuing 30 million shares at $10 each, which has sparked controversy due to certain statements in the application [1][2]. Group 1: Business Expansion and Investments - Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are leveraging a shell company for their latest investment initiative, following a series of business ventures including a meme coin and a cryptocurrency company [2]. - The brothers have announced multiple new business investments over the past year, serving as paid advisors for various companies across sectors such as finance, golf courses, hotels, telecommunications, and cryptocurrency mining [2]. - They will hold 5 million shares in New America and serve on its advisory board, with Kevin McGurn leading the company [2]. Group 2: Governance and Market Performance - Concerns have been raised regarding corporate governance due to the brothers' significant shareholding and the involvement of Dominari Securities' CEO, Kyle Wool, as a board member [3]. - The recent performance of GrabAGun, a company associated with Donald Trump Jr., highlights potential market skepticism, as it saw a nearly 50% drop in market value shortly after its SPAC merger [3]. Group 3: Acquisition Strategy and Target Companies - New America aims to acquire companies with a total enterprise value of $700 million or more, focusing on those that play a significant role in revitalizing U.S. manufacturing and strengthening key supply chains [4]. - The targeted companies are expected to be based in the U.S. or primarily operate there, potentially including sectors like aerospace and critical minerals [4]. Group 4: Controversies and Ethical Concerns - A statement in the IPO filing suggesting that target companies should benefit from government subsidies raised ethical concerns, leading to its removal from the document [5]. - Legal experts have criticized the Trump family's business dealings, suggesting that they may exploit public office for private gain, despite claims of separating business interests from political power [5][6].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing trade negotiations between the U.S. and its major trading partners, highlighting the likelihood of a framework agreement being reached by July 9, followed by further negotiations [1][6][7]. Group 1: U.S. Trade Negotiations - Most U.S. trading partners prefer to reach a preliminary agreement by July 9, after which detailed discussions will continue [1][7]. - U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin indicated that the U.S. might extend negotiation deadlines for countries engaging in good faith discussions, such as the EU [6][8]. - President Trump expressed a willingness to extend negotiation deadlines but deemed it unnecessary, stating that the U.S. is negotiating with about 15 economies [6][8]. Group 2: EU's Position - The EU anticipates that negotiations will extend beyond the July 9 deadline, aiming for a principle agreement before focusing on specifics [7][9]. - The EU's goal is to reduce additional tariffs imposed by the U.S. on sectors like steel and automobiles, while acknowledging the challenge of eliminating the 10% baseline tariff [9][11]. - EU officials are preparing for potential retaliatory measures against the U.S. if negotiations do not yield a fair agreement, including tariffs on $95 billion worth of U.S. goods [11][12]. Group 3: Other Countries' Negotiations - Trade discussions with India and Japan are ongoing but have seen limited progress, particularly on agricultural issues and automotive tariffs [13][15]. - India is resistant to U.S. demands regarding genetically modified crops, while seeking tariff exemptions [14]. - Japan faces challenges with U.S. automotive tariffs, which remain a significant barrier to reaching an agreement [15].

Group 1 - MPOA estimates that Malaysia's palm oil production for May 1-31 is expected to increase by 3.07% [1] - Russia's oil production in May remains below OPEC+ targets [1] - Vietnam's General Statistics Office reports that rice exports in May decreased by 9.6% year-on-year, totaling 784,000 tons [1] Group 2 - India's critical mineral recycling incentive program has entered the final approval stage [1] - The Indian Minister of Mines is exploring critical mineral assets in Australia, Argentina, and Chile [1] - Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is considering emergency imports of foreign rice due to the complete release of reserve rice and lack of inventory [1]

Group 1: Silver Market Analysis - London silver is currently trading above $33.54, with an opening price of $33.03 per ounce and a current price of $33.48, reflecting a 1.33% increase [1] - The highest price reached today was $33.54, while the lowest was $32.88, indicating a short-term bullish trend in the silver market [1] - The trading range for platinum metal over the past month has been between $31.65 and $33.70, with recent price movements showing uncertainty as it fluctuates around the 20-period exponential moving average [3] Group 2: EU-US Trade Negotiations - EU and US tariff negotiations have resumed but remain fraught with uncertainty, with the EU willing to make concessions on purchasing US natural gas, weapons, and agricultural products, while rejecting US demands to eliminate VAT and weaken digital regulations [2] - The US continues to impose a 25% tariff on EU steel and aluminum products and maintains a 10% baseline tariff on nearly all other goods, threatening additional tariffs on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and other key sectors [2] - The EU has initiated public consultations on a list of nearly €100 billion worth of goods in response to US tariffs and plans to file a complaint with the WTO regarding US tariffs on cars and parts [2]