Where does Trump’s critical minerals strategy go from here?
According to The National, the Trump administration has dedicated billions of dollars through various agencies to support the critical minerals supply chain. However, Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest in some of these deals, including companies linked to the Trump family or Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Companies such as USA Rare Earth and Vulcan Elements, which have received government financial support, are now the focus of congressional scrutiny. Despite these pressures, experts suggest the Trump administration is unlikely to slow down its financing, as only a small portion of the announced $30 billion has been disbursed. Meanwhile, China remains the dominant force in the global market, accounting for 60 per cent of mined production and 91 per cent of refined output.