MRS BULLETIN
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VOLUME 48
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JUNE 2023
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mrs.org/bulletin
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is expanding exponentially, becoming
more critical to the functioning of the
global economy. Construction of a new
microchip manufacturing plant requires
several years, signicant investment,
and access to cutting-edge manufactur-
ing technologies. Existing supply chains
are spread out across the world and are
impacted by worker shortages, manu-
facturing facility shutdowns, and back-
logs in ports. Owing to these obstacles,
US investors are increasingly looking
to countries closer to home, such as
Mexico, to establish chip production
operations.
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Raw material supply chains have
also become increasingly vulnerable to
disruptions. Russia is the source of over
one-third of the world’s palladium, a
rare metal used in semiconductor chips.
According to the US Geological Sur-
vey, Russia is the source of six major
minerals for which the United States is
more than 50% dependent on imports.
Ukraine is a source of two major
US efforts to secure and strengthen its
supply chain
By MichaelTaylor
T
he COVID-19 pandemic and the
associated responses of govern-
ments around the world initiated a
series of global supply chain disrup-
tions. This monumental crisis aected
the production and deliveries of mate-
rials and products at both source and
destination, and exposed systemic de-
ciencies in the existing supply chain.
These deleterious eects on the produc-
tion, distribution, and manufacturing
persist to this day. Global commerce
has been most visibly harmed by semi-
conductor chip shortages, port conges-
tion, increased commodity prices, and
carrier shortages. Recent geopolitical
tensions and armed conicts around the
world have further exacerbated these
challenges.
The shortage of semiconductor-
based integrated circuits, although
apparent in our everyday life (such
as shortage of new automobiles), par-
ticularly resonates with the materials
research community. Computer chip use
mineral imports: titanium and gallium.
The United States is more than 90%
dependent on imports of titanium and
more than 100% dependent on imports
of gallium. China is the US’ sole source
for over 90% of rare earth elements,
such as neodymium. The absence of a
resilient domestic supply of these mate-
rials threatens the US economy and
national security.
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The Materials Research Society
(MRS) Government Aairs Committee
commissioned this report to inform the
Society membership and the materials
research community of actions taken by
the US federal government to mitigate
supply chain risks.
Congressional actions
Congressional Supply Chain
Caucus
On January 18, 2022, Congressional
Representative Rodney Davis (R-Ill.)
announced the relaunching of the Con-
gressional Supply Chain Caucus with
Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Rep.
Colin Allred (D-Texas), and Rep. Angie
Craig (D-Minn.). Originally started just
before the onset of the COVID-19 pan-
demic, the Congressional Supply Chain
Caucus was created to work toward
updating and improving the supply
chain system in the United States. The
caucus will focus its work on supply
chain challenges related to manufactur-
ing, trade, delivery, and resiliency.
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There are a number of supply chain-
related caucuses in Congress, includ-
ing the Air Cargo Caucus, the Digital
Trade Caucus, the House Manufactur-
ing Caucus, and the US-China Work-
ing Group. The Congressional Supply
Chain Caucus would seek to bring
together relevant issues from these
separate groups.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to the Materials Research Society 2023
The key metals and minerals in a battery. Generative AI. ByStanislav.
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