The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is pitching a joint investment with the United States to bolster Teck Resources' production of the critical mineral germanium. A triple-bylined item led by Niall McGee writes that Teck produces germanium at its Trail smelter in British Columbia's Kootenay region as a byproduct of zinc mining in Alaska. Germanium is used in fibre optic networks, infrared vision systems and solar panels. "There is an opportunity to jointly invest in a project that will enable greater germanium supply -- which can displace germanium the U.S. has been purchasing from China," Mr. Wilkinson said in a speech Wednesday in Washington. He said collaboration is important because it will benefit both Canada and the U.S. His joint-investment proposal is being made in an environment of extreme trade uncertainty. Federal and provincial politicians in Canada have been trying to head off a trade war with the U.S. by emphasizing ways in which the two countries can work together in energy and in critical minerals such as uranium, scandium, titanium and gallium. B.C. Premier David Eby also wants co-operation with the U.S. in Teck's germanium operations.