US President Donald Trump has invoked emergency powers to expand domestic production of critical minerals as he tries to reduce US reliance on imports from countries like China.
The executive order, which uses cold war era legislation, instructs government agencies, including the defence department, to prioritise mining projects as well as providing technical and financial support to boost critical mineral production.
It comes as a trade war escalates with China, which has overwhelming control over the supply chain of some critical minerals.
Last year, Beijing banned the sale of some critical minerals to the US, forcing American firms to look for other sources of the vital materials.
“Our national and economic security are now acutely threatened by our reliance upon hostile foreign powers’ mineral production,” the executive order said.