Securing critical minerals

Bloomberg reports on Trump’s latest executive order to expand US critical mineral output. Per the Financial Times, China is concurrently increasing state funding for strategic materials. Trump’s agenda has a critical through line, finds Christina Lu in Foreign Policy. Cullen Hendrix in Barron’s describes what Ukraine really has. The Wall Street Journal digs into Greenland’s potential for a mining boom. Stewart Paterson of the Hinrich Foundation analyzes Chinese outbound investment data, highlighting Beijing's growing focus on metals and minerals over hydrocarbons.

Mentioned publications

Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production – Executive Order, The White House, March 20, 2025
Trump’s executive order on critical minerals launches an aggressive federal push to expand domestic mineral production, declaring it critical to US national security and economic resilience. It fast-tracks permits, opens federal lands for mining, mobilizes public and private capital, and expands Defense Production Act powers to support strategic resource projects, all aimed at reducing America’s dependence on foreign-controlled supply chains.
Trump to Expand Critical Mineral Output Using Wartime Powers – Ari Natter and Joe Deaux, Bloomberg, March 21, 2025
President Trump has invoked emergency powers to ramp up US production of critical minerals and rare earths, citing national security risks tied to heavy reliance on China. The executive order is drawing praise from industry groups and criticism from environmental advocates. A rare earths deal with Ukraine is also in the works as part of the administration’s broader effort to reshape global mineral supply chains.
HF sponsored access China raises state funding for strategic minerals amid US trade war – Edward White, Financial Times, March 20, 2025
China is ramping up state support for domestic mineral exploration and tightening control over strategic resources as it races to secure supply chains amid growing tensions with the US. With billions invested annually and new laws easing land access, Beijing is reinforcing its grip on critical minerals, viewing self-sufficiency as a national security imperative, even at high economic cost.
Trump’s Chaotic Agenda Has a Critical Through Line – Christina Lu, Foreign Policy, February 26, 2025
Trump’s renewed focus on resource-rich regions like Canada, Greenland, and Ukraine reflects a broader push to secure US access to critical minerals and reduce reliance on China. But in places like Ukraine, where there is no commercial rare earth production, the hype far outweighs reality—highlighting the gap between political ambitions and the long, complex process of building new supply chains.
Trump Is Focused on Ukraine’s Critical Minerals. Here’s What Ukraine Really Has. – Cullen Hendrix, Barron’s, February 28, 2025
The Trump-Zelensky deal hinges on Ukraine’s potential mineral wealth to fund reconstruction through revenues from state-owned natural resources. While politically convenient, Ukraine’s minerals wealth is currently unknown, and bringing them to market would require massive investment, stable conditions, and years of development, making the economic payoff far from guaranteed.
Greenland Has the Makings of a Mining Boom. So Where Is Everyone? – Sune Engel Rasmussen, The Wall Street Journal, March 4, 2025
Greenland holds some of the world’s richest rare earth mineral deposits, attracting global interest amid efforts to reduce reliance on China’s supply chain. But extreme weather, limited infrastructure, political hurdles, and strong local opposition have stalled major mining projects, as highlighted by a legal battle over a uranium-linked site. While the potential for economic transformation exists, environmental and cultural concerns may keep investors wary.
China’s long shadow on critical minerals looms over Asia – Stewart Paterson, Hinrich Foundation, November 5, 2024
China has been investing heavily overseas to secure supply of critical minerals. In Southeast Asia, Beijing has invested about US$4 billion since 2012, mainly in Indonesia, which exports 16% of the world’s nickel. From a long-term geopolitical, economic, and sustainability perspective, it is not in ASEAN’s interests to be drawn exclusively into one Great Power’s sphere of influence.