How America Wins in the World: Critical Mineral Security

America wins when we invest and compete strategically to secure the critical minerals essential for our national and economic security. At the first-ever U.S. Critical Minerals Summit this February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the importance of mineral supply chains for our “technological innovation, economic strength, and also national security.” Today, minerals-based industries contribute more than $4 trillion to the U.S. economy, yet China controls 60% of the global refining capability and supplies about 90% of the world’s processed rare earth elements.

U.S. international assistance is an essential tool for America’s critical mineral strategy. The good news is that as we compete on the global stage, the State Department and America’s economic development agencies are already driving initiatives from Africa to Europe to the Indo-Pacific to increase U.S. access to critical minerals, strengthen supply chains, and deploy the “wrap-around” investments in communities that help ensure America wins.