# Why Lithium Trade Is the New Battery War

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/trade-and-tariffs-with-fexingo-international-commerce-trade-wars-and-global-supply-chains-7871709/why-lithium-trade-is-the-new-battery-war
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/trade-and-tariffs-with-fexingo-international-commerce-trade-wars-and-global-supply-chains-7871709/why-lithium-trade-is-the-new-battery-war.md
Podcast: [Trade and Tariffs with Fexingo: International Commerce, Trade Wars, and Global Supply Chains](https://stenobird.com/podcast/trade-and-tariffs-with-fexingo-international-commerce-trade-wars-and-global-supply-chains-7871709)
Published: 2026-07-15T05:48:05+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/trade-and-tariffs/episode-0115.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/trade-and-tariffs/episode-0115.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/trade-and-tariffs-with-fexingo-international-commerce-trade-wars-and-global-supply-chains-7871709/episodes/why-lithium-trade-is-the-new-battery-war
Duration seconds: 451

## Resource

As the world scrambles for battery minerals, a new trade battleground is emerging around lithium processing. Lucas and Luna unpack how China controls over 60 percent of lithium refining capacity, why Washington is pouring $3 billion into domestic processing, and what that means for electric vehicle supply chains. They discuss the concentration risk—similar to rare earths—and whether Western refineries can compete on cost. Plus, a look at how tariffs on Chinese lithium products could backfire by raising EV battery costs. Specific numbers: 65 percent of lithium processing in China, $3 billion in US DOE grants, and a 25 percent tariff on Chinese lithium imports proposed under Section 301. #Lithium #BatterySupplyChain #TradeWar #ElectricVehicles #CriticalMinerals #ChinaTrade #Section301 #USManufacturing #EnergyTransition #MineralProcessing #TradePolicy #IndustrialPolicy #SupplyChainSecurity #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TradeAndTariffs #GlobalSupplyChains Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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## Transcript

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