The Trump administration hopes to use a program for expediting federal permitting launched during the Obama administration to strengthen the domestic supply of critical minerals. The move would aim to prevent China from dominating key industries, such as weapons manufacturing and electric vehicles.

Critical minerals are essential to the defense and energy sectors. However, the United States relies on China and other foreign countries to mine and process minerals. China dominates the supply chain, producing 60% of global critical minerals and accounting for 85% of the world’s processing capacity.