It depends on when you need those things. A new discovery will take 10 year minimum before it can be ready, more likely 20. So discoveries like this aren't gone do anything.
There are some domestic companies further along in the process. But existing sources like South American brine and Australian hard rock will continue to be a huge part of the market.
The US companies that originally mined in North Carolina are still around on the processing side.
So its not really clear if having the mining domestically makes much of a difference. China is refining mostly things from Australia.
Tesla is setting up a huge lithium refining factory on US soil but most of the material won't be mined in the US.
There are some domestic companies further along in the process. But existing sources like South American brine and Australian hard rock will continue to be a huge part of the market.
The US companies that originally mined in North Carolina are still around on the processing side.
So its not really clear if having the mining domestically makes much of a difference. China is refining mostly things from Australia.
Tesla is setting up a huge lithium refining factory on US soil but most of the material won't be mined in the US.