Canada has announced a 6.4 billion Canadian dollar ($4.6 billion) package of critical mineral projects to challenge China’s overwhelming dominance in the critical mineral supply chain. The announcement came on Friday at the close of the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ meeting in Toronto.

“This first round of G7 Alliance projects sends the world a very clear signal: we are serious about reducing market concentration and dependencies, safeguarding national security and sovereignty, mobilizing capital, and driving investments in sustainable critical minerals projects,” Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said.

He confirmed that Ottawa had invoked the Defence Production Act to officially designate critical minerals as essential to Canada’s national interests. The move allows the country to launch a stockpiling regime, similar to