MINEX Forum

Tag: United States

  • Uzbekistan’s Critical Minerals Move to the Center of US Geoeconomic Strategy

    Uzbekistan’s Critical Minerals Move to the Center of US Geoeconomic Strategy

    Uzbekistan’s critical mineral resources have become part of a broader US geoeconomic strategy aimed at reducing dependence on China, according to analysis by the Bloomsbury Intelligence & Security Institute (BISI).

    The recently signed memorandum between Tashkent and Washington coincided with a US-hosted ministerial meeting on critical minerals attended by more than 40 countries. At the same time, Washington announced the launch of two new mechanisms: FORGE (Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement) and Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic reserve fund for purchasing and stockpiling critical minerals.

    BISI assesses that the agreement with Uzbekistan fits into a wider network of bilateral partnerships designed to diversify supply chains away from China.

    Uzbekistan holds reserves of tungsten, lithium, vanadium, titanium, germanium and graphite — materials considered essential for defense industries, battery technologies and advanced manufacturing. According to BISI, the country could become a “preferred partner” for the United States within the emerging global raw materials architecture.

    However, analysts caution that diplomatic engagement must translate into tangible investment. Without financing mechanisms through institutions such as EXIM, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and private capital channels, the memorandum risks remaining largely symbolic.

    China’s role remains a critical variable. While experts consider it unlikely that Beijing will escalate tensions directly, increased commercial competition and diplomatic pressure cannot be ruled out. For Tashkent, this creates the need to position cooperation with Washington as commercial and non-exclusive, preserving existing economic ties with China.

    BISI also highlights potential sensitivities in relations with Russia, which could view deeper US-Uzbek cooperation through a geopolitical lens. Possible pressure points may include migration policy or information campaigns.

    In the short term, attention will focus on defining concrete projects and operational rules under the FORGE platform. Over the longer term, the success of the initiative will depend on Uzbekistan’s regulatory environment — including licensing stability, tax predictability and investor protection.

    Ultimately, these factors will determine whether Uzbekistan becomes an integrated player in a new global minerals system or remains primarily a raw material supplier outside major capital flows.

  • EU Expects US to Narrow Scope of Steel and Aluminium Derivative Tariffs

    EU Expects US to Narrow Scope of Steel and Aluminium Derivative Tariffs

    European Union officials expect the United States to soon streamline its broad tariffs on products containing steel and aluminium, potentially easing a major source of tension in transatlantic trade relations.

    According to sources familiar with the bloc’s position, the Trump administration may within weeks reduce the number of so-called “derivative products” subject to the 50% tariff rate applied to goods containing the two metals. The EU has repeatedly argued that the sweeping metals tariff contradicts last year’s US-EU trade agreement, which established a 15% tariff ceiling for most European exports.

    The United States regularly updates the list of derivative products covered by the higher tariff, which now includes more than 400 items. The expanding scope has complicated compliance for exporters, who must calculate the share of steel or aluminium content in their goods, and has diminished the practical benefits of the bilateral trade accord.

    EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told lawmakers he had received reassurances from US counterparts that the issue is being reviewed and that progress could come “rather soon.”

    The anticipated changes would not affect tariffs on commodity-grade steel and aluminium.

    The discussions come amid broader uncertainty in transatlantic trade relations. The US Supreme Court recently struck down the administration’s use of emergency powers to impose reciprocal tariffs, prompting Washington to introduce a new 10% global levy in addition to existing duties. That move could push tariffs on certain EU exports above levels allowed under the US-EU agreement.

    In response, the European Parliament has suspended work on ratifying the trade accord pending clarification of the new US policy. Despite the complications, both sides have signalled their intention to preserve the agreement while navigating the transition to a revised trade framework.

  • UK and US Sign Critical Minerals Partnership to Strengthen Supply Chains

    UK and US Sign Critical Minerals Partnership to Strengthen Supply Chains

    The United Kingdom and the United States have signed a new partnership aimed at securing critical mineral supply chains and boosting investment in domestic mining and processing projects.

    The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Washington DC by UK Foreign Office Minister Seema Malhotra and US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg during a meeting attended by representatives from more than 50 countries. The agreement is designed to accelerate efforts to secure supplies of critical minerals essential for industries ranging from automotive and defence to clean energy and electronics.

    The partnership supports the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy, published last November and backed by up to £50 million in new funding to strengthen domestic production and processing capacity. Under the strategy, the government aims to ensure that by 2035 no more than 60 percent of the UK’s supply of any single critical mineral comes from one country.

    The new UK-US framework seeks to encourage greater private investment in mining and processing projects, while enhancing cooperation between the two allies to build more resilient and diversified global supply chains.

    Minister Seema Malhotra said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to strengthening supply chain resilience and safeguarding long-term economic growth. Industry Minister Chris McDonald added that the partnership would help stimulate new investment into British mineral projects and support sectors reliant on secure access to raw materials.

    The agreement adds to the UK’s expanding network of bilateral critical minerals partnerships, which already includes Australia and Canada.

    The UK critical minerals sector contributes £1.79 billion to the economy and supports more than 50,000 jobs. There are currently over 50 domestic projects focused on extracting and refining critical materials.

  • US Energy Secretary Says Greenland Interest Driven by Security, Not Mining

    US Energy Secretary Says Greenland Interest Driven by Security, Not Mining

    The Trump administration’s primary interest in Greenland is rooted in national security rather than the development of its rare earth or energy resources, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said at a conference in Paris hosted by the French Institute of International Relations.

    President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in expanding US influence in Greenland and has explored potential mineral supply agreements as part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on China for critical raw materials. However, Wright clarified that mineral development is secondary to security considerations, particularly in the context of expanding the US military presence on the Arctic island.

    “We’ve got all sorts of places to mine rare earth metals and produce oil and gas,” Wright said, adding that while resource development might benefit Greenland economically, the United States’ core objective is strategic security.

    Rare earth elements have been central to Washington’s geopolitical strategy, as the US seeks to challenge China’s dominance in the supply of critical minerals used in technologies ranging from smartphones and renewable energy systems to advanced defence applications.

    During the early months of his second term, Trump pursued mineral supply discussions with Greenland and Ukraine. More recently, however, the administration has shifted focus toward downstream processing, widely regarded as the key bottleneck in building alternative supply chains outside China.

    Wright also downplayed the scarcity narrative surrounding rare earth elements, noting that the materials are geographically widespread and that more commercially attractive mining jurisdictions exist elsewhere.

  • Lithuania Signals Willingness to Strike Bilateral Critical Minerals Deal With US

    Lithuania Signals Willingness to Strike Bilateral Critical Minerals Deal With US

    Lithuania may pursue a bilateral agreement with the United States on critical minerals if the European Union fails to move swiftly on a joint partnership, the country’s foreign minister has said.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Kestutis Budrys emphasized that while Vilnius prefers a coordinated European approach, time is becoming a decisive factor. “We have the intention to go forward at the European level,” he said, adding that if consensus within the EU proves too slow, “the way forward is bilaterally.”

    The EU has been working on a critical minerals partnership with the United States and other like-minded countries to reduce dependence on China, which dominates global supply chains for many rare earth elements and strategic materials essential for advanced technologies. Member states have granted the European Commission a mandate to negotiate on behalf of the bloc. However, some capitals, including Vilnius, have voiced concerns over the pace of negotiations.

    At the same time, the administration of Donald Trump has encouraged individual EU member states to consider direct bilateral agreements.

    The urgency of securing alternative supply chains has intensified amid ongoing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. China’s export restrictions on rare earths last year heightened concerns among Western governments about supply-chain vulnerabilities and the risk of political leverage through mineral exports.

    Last week, the United States and 55 other countries agreed to introduce new policy tools, including price floors, aimed at stabilizing supply chains and countering market distortions.

    For Lithuania, the issue carries particular strategic weight. The country’s engineering sector and rapidly expanding defense industry rely on stable access to critical minerals. According to Budrys, Vilnius seeks to diversify imports and reduce exposure to what it considers unreliable suppliers, particularly China, which Lithuania accuses of using trade as a political instrument.

    As geopolitical competition over strategic resources deepens, Lithuania’s position highlights growing pressure within the EU to balance collective action with national urgency in securing critical mineral supply chains.

  • US Launches Project Vault to Secure Critical Minerals and Deepens Engagement With Central Asia

    US Launches Project Vault to Secure Critical Minerals and Deepens Engagement With Central Asia

    The United States has stepped up efforts to secure independent supply chains for critical minerals with the launch of Project Vault, a new initiative designed to establish a US Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve and reduce reliance on China. The project, formally approved on February 2 by the Export-Import Bank of the United States, is backed by up to $10 billion in long-term public financing and an additional $2 billion in expected private-sector participation.

    Project Vault will operate as a public-private stockpile, creating reserves of essential minerals and metals used in aerospace, defence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. Planned storage sites across the United States are intended to buffer domestic industries against global supply shocks, mirroring the role of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in energy markets.

    The initiative reflects Washington’s broader strategy to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from China, which currently dominates global mining, refining, and processing capacity for rare earths. US officials have increasingly framed this dominance as a strategic vulnerability, citing past export restrictions imposed by Beijing as evidence of how mineral supply can be used as a geopolitical tool.

    While Project Vault focuses on domestic resilience, its success depends on diversified upstream supply. In this context, mineral-rich Central Asia has emerged as a key region in US policy thinking. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were invited to participate prominently in the 2026 Critical Minerals Summit, underscoring growing US interest in the region as an alternative source of strategic materials.

    Central Asia collectively hosts deposits of more than 25 minerals classified as critical by the United States Geological Survey, including rare earth elements, tungsten, antimony, manganese, chromium, and titanium. Despite Kazakhstan’s long-standing role as the world’s largest uranium supplier and the region’s significant reserves, much of Central Asia’s mineral output remains underdeveloped or exported as raw material, primarily to China and Russia.

    Washington has signalled a shift from purely diplomatic engagement toward commercially driven cooperation. Alongside the traditional C5+1 framework, the US has increasingly relied on business-focused mechanisms such as the B5+1 platform to connect private capital with Central Asian projects. This approach is supported by US agencies including the US International Development Finance Corporation, the US Trade and Development Agency, and EXIM, all of which are expanding financing and technical support for critical minerals projects in the region.

    US officials argue that stockpiling alone cannot resolve supply vulnerabilities without parallel investment in downstream processing and refining capacity, much of which remains concentrated in China. As a result, future cooperation is expected to focus not only on extraction but also on building value-added processing capabilities in partner countries.

    Taken together, Project Vault and the intensified engagement with Central Asia mark a decisive shift in US critical minerals policy. Washington now views the region not just as a geopolitical partner, but as a potential long-term contributor to diversified, market-based supply chains that underpin US economic and national security.

  • DFC Highlights Major Investments at US Critical Minerals Ministerial

    DFC Highlights Major Investments at US Critical Minerals Ministerial

    Senior US and international officials gathered in Washington as the United States reinforced its push to secure critical minerals supply chains at a high-level ministerial hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting, held at the US Department of State, brought together government leaders committed to building secure, resilient, and transparent global supply chains for critical minerals.

    The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) was represented by Conor Coleman, Chief of Staff and Head of Investments, who took part in discussions focused on mobilising public and private capital for strategic mineral projects. DFC Chief Executive Officer Ben Black said the administration had demonstrated strong leadership in safeguarding access to resources vital to US economic growth and national security, adding that DFC would continue working closely with the White House, Congress, and interagency partners.

    Coleman participated in a plenary session outlining US government funding tools available to support investment in critical minerals. He was joined by senior officials from the Departments of Commerce and Energy, the Export-Import Bank, and the Office of Strategic Capital. The session highlighted how coordinated financing mechanisms can strengthen supply chain security while encouraging private sector participation.

    DFC also outlined a series of recent and ongoing investments. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, state-owned miner Gécamines, through its joint venture with commodity trader Mercuria, has begun shipping around 100000 tonnes of copper committed to the United States, with additional volumes planned for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

    In Brazil, DFC signed a financing agreement with SVRE Holdings Ltd. for a $565 million loan to expand the Pela Ema rare earths mine operated by Serra Verde, supporting the development of a Western-aligned source of heavy rare earth elements. In Kazakhstan, DFC issued letters of interest for up to $700 million in financing linked to Cove Kaz Capital Group’s investment in the Severniy Katpar tungsten mine.

    The corporation has also closed a $600 million investment in the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, a $1.8 billion public-private partnership established with Orion Resource Partners and ADQ, designed to deploy flexible capital across critical minerals projects in eligible jurisdictions. In addition, DFC committed $75 million in equity to the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, matched by the Ukrainian government, to support investment in critical minerals and other strategic sectors.

    DFC said securing diversified and reliable supplies of critical minerals remains central to its investment strategy, as these resources underpin advanced technologies, energy systems, and long-term economic security.

  • United States Strengthens Rare Earth Supply Chains Through Partnership With Kazakhstan

    United States Strengthens Rare Earth Supply Chains Through Partnership With Kazakhstan

    The United States is moving to reinforce its supply of rare earth elements through cooperation with Kazakhstan, following the signing of non-binding long-term partnership agreements between US-based  and Kazakh mining company .

    The agreements were disclosed by , which is currently in the process of combining its business with REAlloys. Further details of the cooperation were reported by Mining Technology.

    The partnership is aimed at securing Kazakh raw materials for REAlloys’ processing facilities. The two companies plan to jointly explore and develop rare earth element deposits in Kazakhstan, with extracted material to be processed and refined before being shipped to REAlloys’ production sites in North America.

    Following around six months of negotiations, the partners identified several promising sites. A central element of the agreement relates to offtake from Altyn Group’s Kokbulak project. More than 350 million tonnes of iron ore are located across an area of roughly 127,000 square kilometres in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda and Kostanay regions. Processing of iron ore tailings is expected to yield concentrates rich in both light and heavy rare earth elements, including terbium and dysprosium.

    To support future deliveries, Altyn Group plans to invest in expanding REAlloys’ processing capacity in the United States, including the country’s only rare earth metallisation facility. The plant supplies a number of government-linked customers and supports demand from high-technology industries.

    Altyn Group Qazaqstan is registered in Kurchatov, Abai Region, and is a subsidiary of UK-based . The company is active in the exploration and mining of gold, silver and rare metal ores.

    From 2025, Altyn Group has also planned to begin development of the Ulken-Karashoky gold-copper deposit in the Abai Region, alongside reported plans to extract gold-silver ores at the Mailikara deposit in Pavlodar Region.

  • Kazakhstan Strengthens Global Role in Critical Minerals at Landmark US-Led Conference

    Kazakhstan Strengthens Global Role in Critical Minerals at Landmark US-Led Conference

    Kazakhstan has taken another step toward positioning itself as a key player in the global critical minerals agenda, with Foreign Minister  participating in the first Ministerial Conference on Critical Minerals. The event was held at the invitation of US Secretary of State  and brought together representatives from more than 50 countries to discuss the future of global supply chains.

    The conference opened with remarks from US Vice President  and was attended by leaders of major Kazakh mining companies, highlighting the practical focus of the discussions and growing interest in concrete investment and industrial projects.

    Talks centred on the diversification and resilience of global supply chains for critical minerals, which underpin green energy, high technology, defence industries and the digital economy. Participants stressed that access to these resources is increasingly viewed as a matter of strategic and economic security, prompting calls to reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers and to expand international cooperation in extraction, processing and logistics.

    Addressing the conference, Kosherbayev outlined Kazakhstan’s substantial potential in critical minerals and its readiness to contribute to stable and reliable global supply chains. He pointed to the country’s significant mineral reserves, established processing capacity, modern infrastructure, political stability and a transparent regulatory environment.

    Kosherbayev noted that Kazakhstan is capable of supplying 20 of the 60 critical minerals listed by the , not merely as raw materials but as value-added products demanded by strategic sectors of the global economy.

    Special attention was given to the implementation of a bilateral memorandum on critical minerals cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States, signed during a presidential visit to Washington in November 2025. The agreement, the first of its kind in Central Asia, focuses on expanding processing capacity in Kazakhstan, facilitating technology transfer and improving access for Kazakh products to the US market, marking a shift toward deeper integration in global value chains.

  • EU Moves to Forge Critical Minerals Partnership with US to Counter China’s Dominance

    EU Moves to Forge Critical Minerals Partnership with US to Counter China’s Dominance

    The European Union is preparing to propose a formal critical minerals partnership with the United States, seeking to align with the Trump administration’s renewed push to secure global supply chains and reduce reliance on China.

    According to sources familiar with the discussions, Brussels is ready to sign a memorandum of understanding with Washington that would launch work on a “Strategic Partnership Roadmap,” with a draft framework expected within three months. Negotiators on both sides are aiming to conclude initial talks within 30 days, with a joint statement by the European Commission and the US expected this week.

    The proposed partnership is designed to coordinate sourcing, pricing and market safeguards for critical minerals that underpin modern technologies ranging from clean energy systems to defence equipment. Both the EU and the US remain heavily dependent on Chinese production and processing, a concentration that has given Beijing significant leverage over global supply chains.

    Under the proposal, the EU and US would explore joint mining and processing projects, develop secure transatlantic supply chains, and consider price-support mechanisms to protect Western producers from cheaper imports. The draft also highlights tools to prevent market manipulation and manage oversupply, including coordinated stockpiling and shared response mechanisms in the event of disruptions.

    Notably, EU officials insist the partnership explicitly include respect for territorial integrity. This provision follows recent strains in transatlantic relations after Donald Trump publicly floated the idea of acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and part of the EU.

    The initiative coincides with a US-led ministerial meeting this week, bringing together foreign ministers and senior officials from allied countries to advance agreements aimed at cutting dependence on Chinese critical minerals. A draft statement seen by Bloomberg indicates the EU, the US and partners are considering a broader plurilateral trade initiative involving like-minded nations.

    Potential measures under discussion include coordinated trade policies such as standards-based markets, price-gap subsidies, border-adjusted price floors and long-term offtake agreements. While the text remains subject to change, it reflects Washington’s interest in shielding domestic producers from undercutting by Chinese exports.

    China’s role looms large in the background. Beijing dominates both mining and refining of many critical minerals, and its export restrictions on rare earths last year elevated the issue to the top of Washington’s strategic agenda. Although some restrictions were temporarily eased following talks between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, US officials remain focused on accelerating diversification.

    In parallel, the Trump administration has placed renewed emphasis on stockpiling. Earlier this week, the US announced a $12 billion critical minerals reserve aimed at protecting manufacturers from sudden supply shocks, a move closely aligned with elements of the EU proposal.

    The European Commission has described the talks as essential to reducing dependence on any single supplier, though officials privately caution that reaching a comprehensive agreement on complex pricing and trade mechanisms within weeks will be challenging. Still, the EU’s willingness to table a detailed proposal signals momentum toward closer transatlantic coordination on one of the most strategically sensitive areas of the global economy.