Trump Invokes Emergency Powers To Boost US Critical Minerals Output

Move Follows Escalating Trade Spat With Mineral Producers That Supply US Factories

- 

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on March 20 invoked emergency powers to boost domestic production of critical minerals used widely across the economy as part of a broad effort to offset China's near-total control of the sector.

The move is the latest by Mr. Trump to increase US energy and minerals production and comes amid an escalating trade conflict with China, Canada, and other large minerals producers that supply American manufacturers.

Lithium, nickel, and other critical minerals are used in many electronics, and demand is expected to surge in coming years for production of electric-vehicle batteries.

China is the world's largest producer or processor of many critical minerals.

Mr. Trump signed an executive order that taps the Cold War-era Defence Production Act (DPA) as part of an effort to provide financing, loans, and other investment support to domestically process a range of critical minerals.

The DPA gives the Pentagon wide berth to procure equipment necessary for national defense.