WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Mining Association (NMA) released the following statement from Rich Nolan on China’s weaponization of the minerals supply chain.
“For the second time in just four months, China is weaponizing the minerals supply chain while the U.S. domestic arsenal is virtually nonexistent. By curbing the export of graphite – a mineral the U.S. is not producing at home – Beijing has expertly demonstrated the reality of U.S. mineral insecurity. Graphite is one of 51 minerals for which more than half of U.S. consumption is imported, when many of these minerals could be produced at home with more support for domestic mining, processing and innovation. In fact, instead of working to ramp up mining in the U.S., the Biden administration has withdrawn mineral-rich acreage, preemptively blocked projects and has proposed new hurdles for miners when we should be doing the exact opposite. The threat posed by mineral insecurity – and China’s weaponization of mineral supplies — is not limited to a handful of metals. It’s well past time for the U.S. to lean into our vast mineral resources and build the secure, responsible mineral supply chains we so urgently need.”
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