Critical minerals are essential to production in several sectors, including weapons, automotive, aerospace and communications technology, yet the U.S. depends heavily on imports for the raw materials.
Lithium, for example, is heavily used in the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles. But a 2023 report from the International Energy Agency found nearly half of planned global lithium refining operations are in China. As a result, shoring up supply of rare earths has been a bipartisan priority recently, with presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump each taking several actions to invest in domestic production.
“President Trump recognizes that an overreliance on foreign critical minerals and their derivative products could jeopardize U.S. defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation,” according to a White House fact sheet on the critical mineral review.
