It's easy to set up lithium extraction. The problem is setting up commercially viable lithium extraction.
Yes, the US can lose lots of money building a lithium industry. But what would be the point?
Yes, the US can lose lots of money building a lithium industry. But what would be the point?
Why is corn vital to the national interest? And what's the national interest you want to protect by subsidising lithium?
Most of those 'national interest' justifications are pretty flimsy, and there's almost always a better and more targeted approach to protecting the stated national interest than the subsidies and protectionism they are used to justify.
Details obviously depend on the specific case. But have a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendshoring for some inspiration.