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India and the United States launched the Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) initiative during the Indian Prime Minister’s 2025 visit to the US. This landmark partnership aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation across critical and emerging technology sectors, diversify global supply chains, and reduce dependence on China in strategic industries.

Key Objectives and Scope of the TRUST Initiative

The TRUST initiative is a comprehensive framework focused on:

• Critical Minerals and Advanced Materials
  • Establishing resilient supply chains for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements (REEs)—vital for sectors like defense, semiconductors, clean energy, and electric vehicles (EVs).
  • Launch of the Strategic Mineral Recovery Programme to recover and process critical minerals from industrial waste.
  • Joint R&D and investment under the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN).
  • India to scale up exploration, processing, and recycling of critical minerals under the National Critical Minerals Mission (2025–31) with a ?16,300 crore outlay.
• Pharmaceutical Sector Collaboration
  • Reducing India’s reliance on China for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) through alternative supply chains and expanded API manufacturing.
  • Encouraging investment in Indian pharma production, including facilities in the US.
  • Pharma formed 21.9% of India’s $20 billion consumer goods exports to the US in 2023.
• High-Tech and Emerging Technologies
  • Joint R&D in semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, space, defense, biotechnology, and energy.
  • U.S.-India AI Roadmap to be finalized by 2025, including data center infrastructure, processor access, and AI applications.
  • Facilitating innovation through academic, industrial, and government collaboration.
• Technology Transfer and Trade Facilitation
  • Easing export controls and restrictions to foster high-tech trade.
  • Enabling smoother cross-border technology flows and investment under mechanisms like the CHIPS Act (ITSI Fund).

Associated Initiatives Enhancing TRUST

• iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies) – Launched in 2022, focuses on bilateral cooperation in semiconductors, AI, quantum, and wireless tech with defense applications.
• INDUS-X – Defense innovation initiative involving India’s iDEX and the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), emphasizing secure chip designs and green energy.
• CHIPS Act Collaboration – ITSI Fund supports India's semiconductor capacity through funding for R&D and infrastructure.

Strategic Significance

• Reducing China Dependence:China dominates ~70% of global REE production. TRUST helps India and the US build alternative, secure supply chains.
• Boosting Atmanirbhar Bharat:TRUST supports India’s goals under the National Critical Minerals Mission to become self-reliant in key strategic sectors.
• Enhancing Tech and Defense Capability:Ensures timely access to rare materials essential for missiles, radars, fighter jets, AI hardware, and quantum computing.
• Strengthening Pharma and Health Security:Addresses global API shortages and reduces vulnerability in critical drug manufacturing.
• Promoting Clean Energy Transition:Secures supply of minerals like lithium and cobalt essential for battery production and renewable energy tech.
• Fostering Innovation and Investment:Encourages private sector collaboration and US investments in India’s tech, mineral, and pharma sectors.

Current Status of India’s Critical Minerals Ecosystem

• Imports: India is a net importer of most critical minerals; import bill (FY24) stood at approx. ?30,000 crore.
• Exports: India remains a net exporter in rare earths.
• Budgetary Allocation (2025–31):
  • ?7,000 crore for exploration.
  • ?1,500 crore for recycling incentives.