America’s New Resource Strategy

The goal is to rebuild supply chains for purposes of economic growth and national security

Open pit rare earth element mine at Mountain Pass, California.

America’s factories depend on a supply chain the country does not control. Missiles, computer chips, batteries, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence systems all require minerals that are often mined or processed elsewhere, with China holding the strongest position in many important markets.

For decades, that dependence was treated as an acceptable result of globalization. American companies bought materials from whichever supplier could provide them most cheaply, while mining, processing and much of the environmental burden moved abroad. The arrangement lowered costs, but it also allowed expertise and industrial capacity to disappear.

Washington now views that trade-off differently. Critical minerals are becoming part of a national strategy built around federal financing, government ownership, stockpiles, trade restrictions and partnerships with dependable suppliers. The objective is not complete independence, but preventing a rival from disrupting industries essential to American economic strength and national defense.