Artificial intelligence chatbots, cloud storage platforms and financial systems all depend on data centres that operate round the clock. These facilities underpin the digital economy where even brief interruptions can have far-reaching consequences. That means they rely heavily on battery systems that bridge power interruptions until backup generators take over.

Today, nearly all of those batteries are lithium based. Much of the lithium-ion supply chain is controlled by China. Last year, the US imported $15.3bn worth of lithium batteries from China, which accounted for about a quarter of China’s total lithium battery exports. That makes the US a market capable of reshaping global battery demand.

Yet this position comes with significant vulnerability. Heavy reliance on Chinese lithium groups exposes the US to economic and strategic risks, especially as China has moved to restrict the export of certain critical battery technologies, including those used to process lithium and gallium.