Japan courts Canada, Australia for China-free EV supply chain

TOKYO -- Japan is looking to Canada and Australia for critical materials used in electric vehicle batteries as U.S. policy pushes companies to develop China-free supply chains.

But Japanese automakers and battery companies face a stiff battle for resources, even with the government backing their efforts to diversify. South Korean rivals have already made inroads into Canada and Australia, while resource-rich countries like Indonesia and Chile have been moving to limit exports of raw minerals.