The U.S. and other countries have so far been unable to break China’s stranglehold over rare earths supplies. Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture/Postmedia files

The United States will seek agreements with eight allied nations as part of a fresh effort to strengthen supply chains for the computer chips and critical minerals needed for AI technology , according to the top State Department official for economic affairs.

The initiative, which builds on efforts dating back to the first Trump administration, unfolds as the U.S. looks to cut dependence on China . It will begin with a meeting at the White House on Dec. 12 between the U.S. and counterparts from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Australia, Ja

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