U.s. aims to break china's grip on critical minerals, investing $12 billion

The Trump administration has launched a major effort to reduce America's reliance on China for critical minerals used in advanced technologies. A $12 billion fund will invest in domestic mining, processing, and storage of key materials like lithium, graphite, cobalt, and rare earths.

China's dominance in critical minerals

China's rapid economic growth has created huge demand for industrial minerals, exceeding domestic supplies. Beijing responded by investing heavily in overseas mining assets, gradually taking control of refining and processing for many products. Today, China is the top producer of 20 critical minerals, according to its global market share.

U.s. dependence on china

However, the U.S. remains heavily dependent on China for many of these minerals. It imports over 70% of its rare earth supplies, 100% of its lithium carbonate, and 50% of its cobalt from the Asian giant. This vulnerability has raised concerns about national security and supply chain risks.

Government initiatives

In response, the U.S. government is taking bold action. The