U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Commerce to launch an investigation into the country’s heavy reliance on imported critical minerals.
The order, issued on Tuesday, highlights concerns over the vulnerability of U.S. supply chains and their potential risks to national security, defense readiness, and economic stability.
The executive order stresses that the dependence on imports for essential minerals, particularly rare earth elements (REEs), has raised significant security and economic concerns. “The dependence of the United States on imports and the vulnerability of our supply chains raises the potential for risks to national security, defense readiness, price stability, and economic prosperity and resilience,” the order states.
This move is seen as part of an effort to break China’s dominance in the critical minerals sector, which is vital for the production of advanced technologies, defense systems, and renewable energy products. China currently controls 69% of global rare earth production and holds 49% of the world’s estimated reserves, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s 2024 data.
The executive order also follows Trump's March 20 decision to encourage both public and private investments aimed at boosting the U.S. production of critical minerals. The order outlines the establishment of financing and credit mechanisms to enhance the country’s energy and critical minerals sectors.
This new directive builds on previous actions, including the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in 2018 on Chinese goods, which led to retaliatory measures from Beijing, including tighter controls over the export of rare earths. The latest restrictions were implemented by China on April 4, just days after new U.S. tariffs were announced.
As global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, the U.S. is focusing on reducing its dependency on China and securing a more resilient and self-sufficient supply chain. The investigation into mineral imports is part of broader efforts to strengthen U.S. economic and security positions in an increasingly competitive global market.
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Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s chief trade negotiator, is set to arrive in London on Sunday for a six-day visit, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the China-US Economic and Trade Consultative Mechanism scheduled for Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
The final match of the European Chovqan Championship, organized by the International Chovqan Federation, was held in Poland from June 5 to 7, 2025. In a historic victory, the Azerbaijan national team was crowned European champion for the first time.
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President Donald Trump is preparing to extend the federal deadline for TikTok’s U.S. ban for a third time, as the June 19 cutoff approaches with no finalized deal in sight, according to government officials.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed it carried out a third targeted attack against the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, early Tuesday morning, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture early Monday, causing no reported injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued, officials confirmed.
A sweeping travel ban ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump will go into effect early Monday, barring entry to citizens from 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on travelers from seven others. The move, set to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET, has drawn strong reactions both at home and abroad.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated Sunday that it is still awaiting official confirmation from Ukraine regarding a planned exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers, which was scheduled to begin Saturday.
Russia announced that its self-imposed moratorium on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles is coming to an end, accusing the United States and its allies of failing to reciprocate Moscow’s restraint.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
A new artificial intelligence analysis has dated many of the Dead Sea Scrolls as significantly older than previously believed, potentially reshaping the timeline of early Jewish history and biblical authorship.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s chief trade negotiator, is set to arrive in London on Sunday for a six-day visit, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the China-US Economic and Trade Consultative Mechanism scheduled for Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
The final match of the European Chovqan Championship, organized by the International Chovqan Federation, was held in Poland from June 5 to 7, 2025. In a historic victory, the Azerbaijan national team was crowned European champion for the first time.
A new artificial intelligence analysis has dated many of the Dead Sea Scrolls as significantly older than previously believed, potentially reshaping the timeline of early Jewish history and biblical authorship.
President Donald Trump is preparing to extend the federal deadline for TikTok’s U.S. ban for a third time, as the June 19 cutoff approaches with no finalized deal in sight, according to government officials.
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