TOKYO, March 17 (Reuters) - Japan and the United States

are set to agree to jointly develop rare earths, lithium and

copper at Thursday's summit, the Nikkei Business Daily reported

on Tuesday.

Japanese firms Mitsubishi Materials ( MIMTF ) and Mitsui & Co ( MITSF )

are due to take part in the projects, which include a

rare earth refining operation in Indiana and the development of

a lithium mine in North Carolina, Nikkei said.

The projects mark the latest efforts to secure supply chains

of critical minerals, which are essential to the manufacture of

certain defence technologies, semiconductors and renewables

components.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is due to meet U.S.

President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. at a leaders' summit

on March 19.