Critical minerals are becoming essential components of modern technologies. They play a transformative role in powering artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and national security. These materials underpin clean energy and defense systems advancements while driving global economic growth. However, the U.S. faces significant challenges, including its dependence on foreign-controlled supply chains, regulatory inefficiencies, and investment shortfalls. The global race for critical minerals is accelerating, with nations like China rapidly expanding their dominance across mining, processing, and refining sectors.
This report, “Resources for Resources: Financing Critical Minerals Supply Chains,” offers a bold and comprehensive roadmap to secure the United States’ critical mineral supply chains. It provides policymakers and industry leaders with actionable strategies to address investment barriers, enhance domestic production, and build strategic partnerships while ensuring environmental sustainability and national security.
“Resources for Resources” delivers a detailed analysis of the critical minerals landscape, emphasizing vulnerabilities stemming from foreign-controlled markets, insufficient domestic capacity, and regulatory fragmentation. It highlights the urgency of mitigating risks to safeguard the nation’s economic and defense capabilities. The report also underscores the critical need for innovative financial tools and international collaboration to close the investment gap and build resilient supply chains.
Key Themes and Highlights:
- Unprecedented Market Dominance by China: The report exposes the systematic policies that enabled the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to dominate 80% of midstream processing for critical minerals, creating vulnerabilities for U.S. and allied economies.
- Investment Barriers: It details the technical, financial, compliance, and geopolitical risks deterring private capital and calls for targeted reforms to U.S. permitting, geological mapping, and commercial diplomacy.
- Solutions and Policy Recommendations: The report outlines a roadmap for creating an enabling investment climate through innovative public-private partnerships, lessons from allied nations, and targeted government action to address market failures.
By prioritizing these strategic imperatives, the U.S. can secure its leadership in critical minerals and foster sustainable, equitable growth while safeguarding its economic and national security.
