The two countries signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on “High-Standard, Market-Oriented Trade.”
The United States and Norway have reaffirmed their cooperation on critical minerals. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on “High-Standard and a Market-Oriented Trade of Critical Minerals” in Washington on Monday. Under the agreement, the two sides will work on secure, transparent supply chains that advance labor and environmental standards, Blinken said in a social media post.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Eide highlighted the mineral industry of Norway, pointing out that the northern European country is the number one exporter of cobalt to the U.S. and the number three exporter of nickel. Eide added that Norway is the largest graphite producer in Europe. In June, Norway reported on the largest rare earth deposit in Europe located in the country’s south. In addition, the country seeks to open up its maritime waters for deep-sea mining, a controversial yet promising move, as the continental shelf holds vast amounts of resources. Norway could thus become an important supplier of critical minerals to the U.S.
The now-signed agreement builds on a deal made in April when the two sides announced that they would collaborate on critical mineral and clean energy supply chains.
Photo: iStock/Oleksii Liskonih
