A novel idea for lithium is that much of our lithium recycling is done in other countries. If the government were to classify lithium as strategic security material, it would severely limit its exportation. Ergo retaining more of it domestically and encouraging domestic recycling. Lithium may arrive but it can never leave, so to speak.
An idea that the EU, China or any of your other large trading partners would never allow to fly for more than a split second without introducing reciprocal measures.
