Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
India is actively negotiating with Chile and Peru to secure long-term access to critical minerals, especially copper concentrate, as part of ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) talks, according to a Reuters report. The move comes as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on China and strengthen its domestic supply chain for key industrial inputs.
As part of the FTA discussions, India aims to include a dedicated chapter on copper to ensure a fixed supply of copper concentrate from the South American nations. Currently, India imports over 90% of its copper concentrate requirements, a figure projected to rise to 97% by 2047 if domestic production does not increase.
The talks align with India’s broader strategy to diversify its sources of critical minerals amid rising global competition and geopolitical tensions. This includes an effort to lessen dependency on China, which remains a dominant player in the rare earth and magnet industries. China produces roughly 90% of the world’s rare earth magnets and recently imposed export restrictions on them in response to U.S. tariffs.
India’s push to secure alternative supply chains for critical minerals is seen as essential for its growing electronics, renewable energy, and electric vehicle sectors, all of which require copper and rare earth elements for production.
These FTA negotiations with resource-rich countries like Chile and Peru reflect a global shift toward resource security and supply chain resilience in strategic industries. Strengthening bilateral trade relationships and securing key raw materials are expected to support India’s long-term economic and technological ambitions.
