Trump uses war powers to promote critical mineral production

Trump uses war powers to promote critical mineral production

On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed a , which aims to immediately increase the production of critical minerals in the USA - including uranium, copper, potash and gold. The Defense Production Act is used here to expand the lease and development of federal property.

goal of the decree

The decree should help reduce the dependency of the USA on imports from countries such as China that play a dominant role in the production and processing of many of these important materials.

authorities and responsibilities

The decree authorizes Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, in consultation with other executives responsible, to use the Defense Production Act in order to promote domestic mineral production. The law, which was adopted in 1950 in response to production needs during the Korean War, enables the government to control industrial production in emergencies.

measures to prioritize mineral deposits

Trump a list of all federal states that have known mineral deposits and reserves. It should also prioritize the mineral -producing and mining uses in these areas, according to the legal requirements.

response to the threat from China

Rich Nolan, President and CEO of the National Mining Association, praised Trump's step and described the promotion of American mining as a "national security measure". He said: "By promoting a simplified and transparent approval process and financial support to combat foreign market manipulation, we can finally challenge China's mineral blackmail."

critical minerals and their importance

The US Geological Survey (USGS) defines critical minerals as those that are essential for the economy and national security of a country with susceptible supply chains. These include lithium, nickel and cobalt - materials used for the production of batteries, electrical components and semiconductors and are widespread in electric vehicles, mobile phones and other electronic devices.

The dominance of China and geopolitical tensions

China plays a leading role in the production and processing of many critical minerals. In 2024, over 50 % of the imports of certain critical materials, such as Yttrium and Wismuth, were dependent on China, according to the USGs. In view of the increasing geopolitical tensions, especially in connection with China's export controls for crucial technologies, the need for independent mineral care in the USA becomes more urgent.

future steps and international cooperation

Trump also announced that it will soon sign a contract for rare earth with Ukraine. This contract was the reason why the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj was invited to the White House last month, but he was not signed after a tense meeting.

The promotion and refinement of critical minerals is a non-partisan goal, which was also part of Joe Bidens Agenda for Clean Energy, supported by the climate law of the former President of 2022.