The U.S. Department of Defense cancels bidding for strategic reserve lithium procurement.

The U.S. Department of Defense has canceled a tender for the procurement of strategic reserve lithium, further highlighting the challenges it faces in expanding its supply of critical minerals. According to an announcement posted on the website of the Defense Logistics Agency on Monday, the agency has withdrawn a tender plan to purchase nearly 36 million pounds of battery-grade lithium carbonate, with a maximum contract value of $300 million. The Defense Logistics Agency did not specify the reason for canceling the tender.