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Trump executive order requires contractors to cut China-linked critical minerals
The order sets a January 2027 deadline for contractors to submit mitigation plans to replace non-compliant sources for defense supply chains.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing US reliance on China-linked defense critical minerals, directing military contractors to shift away from Beijing-linked supply chains starting in January 2027.
The order, titled Securing America’s Defence Supply Chains and Ensuring Domestic Acquisition of Critical Minerals, says the United States must protect its supply chains from physical, cyber, and economic subversion and frames the move as part of maintaining US military dominance in an era of renewed great power competition.
According to SCMP Economy, the US Department of Defense relies heavily on critical minerals such as rare earths for components used in weapon systems, and the order cites China’s dominant position in the sector, including roughly two-thirds of global rare earth mining and about 90 percent of refining.
The executive order requires contractors to submit formal mitigation plans to identify non-compliant sources, document efforts to find compliant material or prove none was available, and outline steps to remove non-compliant sources from their supply chains.