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US announces critical minerals deals as it targets China dependence
The package includes about US$2 billion in mining investments and more than US$180 million for workforce development, with the White House citing a US graduate pipeline of under 170 mining engineers per year.
The United States announced several critical minerals agreements with mining companies, framing the move as part of an effort to reduce reliance on foreign sources for strategic materials. South China Morning Post reports the announcement was made as President Donald Trump met with global mining industry executives at the State Department.
Trump said the administration aims to ensure the US is never again reliant on hostile foreign nations for resources needed to compete, without naming China directly. He also argued the measures would restore US mining capacity and strengthen US positioning as a critical minerals superpower.
The initiative includes around US$2 billion in investments in mining projects in the United States and abroad, along with more than US$180 million devoted to mining workforce development. Trump cited differences in training capacity, saying accredited mining programs in the US graduate fewer than 170 mining engineers each year.
Trump also said half of the current mining workforce is expected to retire within the next three years, according to the SCMP Economy account. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Secretary of State Marco Rubio made indirect remarks about China’s dominance in critical minerals production and processing.