Partnerships with two of the world's largest lithium producers, Chile and Argentina, will help Germany diversify its supply of the critical battery material and, in turn, reduce its strategic dependencies on China. But the Latin American countries' difficult business and regulatory climate may complicate German firms' investment plans. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Argentina, Chile and Brazil between Jan. 28 and 31. He was accompanied by a large business delegation in a bid to promote increased energy cooperation with the Latin American countries and secure more supplies of critical raw materials like lithium, a key mineral used in the batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs). On Jan. 28, Scholz met Argentine President Alberto Fernandez in Buenos Aires, where the two signed a business cooperation agreement and discussed ways to increase German companies' access to the country's lithium resources. The two leaders also reaffirmed their countries' commitment to resolving the outstanding...
