KoBold Makes Offer for Congo Lithium as Country Courts US, page-2101

Back then China were really the only player investing. Every insider with knowledge was saying how crazy it is given lit prices that auto manufacturers were not investing up stream and that a lot more investment was needed to support the electrical transition. The reason the US are being forced in now is national security and China's sheer dominance in the space lets them manipulate the market and become anti-competitive down stream.