Trump expanded the list of critical minerals to include copper, uranium, metallurgy, coal, etc

The Trump administration in the United States has expanded its list of critical minerals, adding another 10 types of minerals that are crucial to the US economy and national security. These include copper, which is essential for electric vehicles, power grids, and data centers, as well as metallurgical coal and uranium, which are used in steelmaking coke.

Reuters reported that the list of critical minerals released by the US Department of the Interior on Thursday (November 6) is used to guide the federal government's investment and approval decisions and helps the government formulate a broader mineral strategy.

The Trump administration's expansion of the critical minerals list aims to boost domestic mineral exploitation and reduce reliance on imports, especially from economic rival China.

Interior Secretary Bergum said that this expanded list "provides a clear and data-driven roadmap to reduce our reliance on foreign rivals, expand domestic production, and unlock America's innovative potential."

The new list also includes enriched uranium, boron, lead, phosphate, potash, rhenium, silicon and silver used as fuel for nuclear reactors.

This list serves as a blueprint for Washington's efforts to ensure the supply of materials needed for defense, manufacturing, and clean energy technologies. It determines which projects meet the conditions for federal government incentives, provides a basis for national reserves and research priorities, and indicates to private investors which areas the government believes have long-term strategic value.