On 16 February 2018, the U.S. Government published its draft list of 35 minerals it deems critical to both the economic and national security of the country.
The draft is the result of President Trump’s Executive Order, adopted on 20 December 2017, which asked the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Secretary of Defense to publish a list of mineral commodities that are vital to U.S. interests.
The U.S. Department of the Interior is seeking public comments by 19 March 2018 on the draft list of minerals considered critical to the economic and national security of the United States.