Coronavirus slows U.S. push to produce electric vehicle minerals

(Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic is hobbling U.S. efforts to produce lithium, rare earths and other materials used in electric vehicles and high-tech equipment, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump's plan to curb Chinese control of the strategic minerals sector.As the pandemic has killed nearly 20,000 across the globe, U.S. junior miners have slowed engineering work, environmental reviews and loan applications."We can just hit pause," said Keith Phillips, chief executive of North..