China courts US market access as South Korea secures Kazakh lithium and uranium

September 18, 2026 at 06:50 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet Donald Trump in Washington on September 24, with BYD, CATL, Xiaomi, Gotion, Hisense and Bank of China under consideration for the business delegation. South Korea and Kazakhstan expanded their strategic partnership on September 15 to cover critical minerals, nuclear energy and technology. The two developments reflect a global race for battery metals and industrial market access.

Key Facts

Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Donald Trump in Washington on September 24, 2026.
Reuters reported that BYD, CATL, Xiaomi, Gotion, Hisense and Bank of China are being considered for the Chinese business delegation.
Kazakhstan and South Korea expanded their strategic partnership on September 15 to include critical minerals, nuclear energy and technology.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on September 16 that combining Central Asian lithium and uranium with Korean battery and semiconductor capabilities could lead the global market.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called critical minerals strategic assets for industry, technology and national security on September 15.

China–US Summit

Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Donald Trump in Washington on September 24, 2026. According to Reuters, Beijing is considering including BYD, CATL, Xiaomi, Gotion, Hisense and Bank of China in the business delegation. The list is not final and the delegation composition is still being coordinated. BYD produces electric vehicles, CATL is the largest battery maker, Xiaomi has become an automaker, and Gotion makes batteries. The companies share dependence on lithium, rare earth metals, graphite and battery components, as well as access to industrial markets.

Korea–Kazakhstan Partnership

Kazakhstan and South Korea expanded their strategic partnership on September 15 to include critical minerals, nuclear energy and technology. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on September 16 that combining Central Asian lithium and uranium with Korean battery and semiconductor capabilities could lead the global market. Korean representatives stressed that cooperation should cover the entire chain, from exploration and processing to refining and finished products. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called critical minerals strategic assets for industry, technology and national security on September 15. She proposed linking Kazakh resources with Korean processing technologies.

US Market Access

Donald Trump said on September 11 that he would accept Chinese automakers opening plants in the United States. Trump's main condition is production and jobs in the US. The United States has the world's largest consumer market and can exchange access to it for built factories and jobs. Kazakhstan does not have a consumer market of that depth and width; its negotiating asset is the resource base. Astana should determine which parts of the chain can remain in Kazakhstan, such as processing, refining, materials production, research centers and training.