Critical Minerals are Essential for U.S. Industries
- Critical minerals (CM), including aluminum, bismuth, cobalt, copper, nickel, and silicon, are essential for a wide scope of products from renewable energy technologies to defense mechanisms.
- A category of critical minerals, rare earth minerals (REE) are actually abundant in the Earth’s crust, and there are 121.3 million tons of rare earth oxide (REO) deposits, with the majority (40%) found in China.
- As of 2022, the United States was “100% net import reliant for 12 of the 50 individually listed critical minerals” and “more than 50% net import reliant for an additional 28 critical mineral commodities.”
- In contrast to the U.S., the Chinese Communist Party produces 60% of the global supply of CM and processes 90% of REE.
The U.S. is Embracing Mining for Critical Minerals
- President Trump promised to prioritize and approve more domestic mining projects in his “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production” executive order.
- Across the nation, mines are expanding their operations into REE, which could create a substantial number of new jobs, an average of 2.5 new jobs per mining job, in related industries.
- Recently approved by the Trump administration, the 211-mile Ambler Road will provide access for zinc, lead, silver, cobalt, and copper exploration and production.
REE Production Serves National Security Interests
- The U.S. has just one operational rare earth mineral mine, and about 70% of America’s REE imports came from China between 2020 and 2023.
- Because advanced weapon systems—from F-35 fighter jets to Tomahawk missiles—rely on REE-based components, an escalation in geopolitical tensions could trigger serious supply disruptions for the United States.
- Through collaboration with countries like Ukraine and Greenland, the U.S. can and is encouraging investment into CM mining to secure allied sources of REE and decrease China’s dominance.
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