Elithx,

The article you linked is not being totally accurate (to the point I'd almost say they're purveying Alternative Facts).

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (the title of which probably also fits in the Alternative Facts section since additional government spending is the opposite of reducing inflation...) does include provisions about the percentage of EV battery materials that need to be sourced either locally or from nations with free trade agreements with the USA in order for the end purchaser to receive a tax credit for the purchase. The Nuevamineria article makes it sound like a legal requirement, which is simply not true - just a subsidy incentive (which is still a big deal, but not nearly as serious as they're making it sound)

It's not becoming illegal to use minerals from other places in any scenario, and there are other limitations on the tax credit like income caps and vehicle price caps that will mean there isn't any special incentive to use local minerals in high end models.