Mine Games: Securing America’s Critical Mineral Supply

The Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, has listed 50 critical minerals that constitute a strategic vulnerability for the nation’s security and prosperity. And now, with China’s mineral export restrictions coupled with global supply chain challenges, there is greater pressure on the United States and allies to consider a coordinated strategy to weaken adversarial nations’ grip on critical minerals. Key options include recycling, stockpiling, domestic production, international partnerships, and consideration of new mineral frontiers. There is no one magic bullet. Instead, the United States will need to consider a range of industrial policy options to navigate competing and expanding national economies, mineral scarcities, and a complex geopolitical climate.

Authors: Karen L. Jones, Chloe I. Skorupa