U.S. President Donald Trump took a new step to control exports of critical minerals of strategic importance for the defense industry and national security. According to a White House statement, Trump signed an executive order granting the Commerce Secretary authority to impose restrictions on exports of these minerals and materials.
In a written statement, the White House said that recoverable critical minerals are vital industrial resources for military production, industrial applications, and national security. The statement noted that U.S. dependence on foreign sources for these critical materials creates a serious and persistent risk of supply chain disruption.
With the signing of the executive order, the Commerce Secretary now has direct authority to restrict exports of these minerals and materials. The move is viewed as a policy shift to secure the U.S. supply of strategic resources.