The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing a policy covering everything from production to recycling to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals needed by the energy transition, the defense industry and artificial intelligence technologies. The fact that much of the processing and refining of copper, lithium and graphite takes place outside the country leaves the United States dependent on foreign supply chains.
Critical minerals become part of security policy
In the United States, critical minerals and rare earth elements, which comprise 17 specific elements, are not viewed solely as economic raw materials. Trump evaluates these resources in connection with national security, the defense industry and reducing strategic dependence on China.
As part of the National Energy Emergency he declared upon taking office, Trump said that U.S. production, processing, refining and infrastructure in the energy and critical minerals sectors did not meet the country's needs. He described critical minerals as an issue linked to energy security, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and defense.
Production and supply chains to be expanded domestically
The administration's plan envisages rebuilding supply chains inside the United States, from mining critical minerals to processing and recycling them. The aim is to secure access to the materials needed by strategic sectors, particularly the defense industry and artificial intelligence technologies.
Within this framework, the administration plans to revive the Ambler Road project in Alaska and increase access to critical mineral deposits. The project is linked to national security, economic growth and the reduction of dependence on foreign sources.
Trump also signed an executive order stating that critical minerals and recoverable strategic materials are necessary for U.S. national defense. While the order grants the Commerce Department the authority to restrict exports of these materials when necessary, the administration announced a $3 billion investment in critical minerals and battery projects.
Resource partnerships with Ukraine and allies
Seeking to create an alternative to China's strong position in critical minerals and rare earth elements, the Trump administration is developing strategic partnerships with various countries. Trump said he wanted an agreement granting the United States access to Ukraine's rare earth elements and other minerals in exchange for U.S. financial support for Ukraine.
The agreement signed between the United States and Ukraine envisaged the two countries obtaining economic stakes and strategic access in future natural resource projects. The agreement was not limited to rare earth elements and covered a broad range of underground resources.
Trump described the agreement reached with Australia on critical minerals and rare earth elements as a step that would expand opportunities. The U.S. administration also launched the “Pax Silica” coalition with the participation of Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Israel.
Search for a strategic reserve and trade bloc
Trump said that the United States should own Greenland and explained this position on national security grounds. During the same period, Trump announced the creation of the United States' first Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve and defined it as the stockpiling of critical minerals for civilian use in emergencies.
Trump also called on federal agencies to favor U.S.-sourced supplies of critical minerals and other strategic materials. The administration advanced the idea of forming a trade bloc among Western countries to counter China's influence over pricing and supply in minerals such as lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, antimony, graphite and tungsten.
The White House is using its financing capacity to build a partnership network extending from Southeast Asian countries to Saudi Arabia. The cooperation, which covers various stages from mining operations to magnet production, is intended to expand financing for mineral projects through the EXIM and DFC banks.
