Pentagon- and Toyota-backed startup moves to cut U.S. reliance on China iron

A Pentagon- and Toyota-backed U.S. startup is moving to cut American reliance on China for iron, Nikkei Asia reports today. The effort comes as Washington and industry race to secure critical materials and insulate manufacturing from geopolitical shocks. Cutting exposure to China-linked iron supply chains is a rising priority for defense planners and automakers seeking stable inputs.

Nikkei Asia says the company has financial backing from the U.S. Department of Defense and Toyota-affiliated investors, and is advancing plans to scale domestic production. The initiative targets more secure U.S. sourcing of iron and iron-based inputs across manufacturing, aligning with policies to de-risk strategic supply chains. Watch for official confirmation of the venture’s timeline, facility locations and production milestones, plus any additional federal or corporate funding disclosures. [Developing. This article will be updated.]