The U.S. government is accelerating its push for mineral independence as both the executive and legislative branches made bold moves this week to secure the domestic rare-earth supply chain.
- CRML stock is moving. See the chart and details here.
Twin-Track Approach
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump instructed his representatives to negotiate potential price floors with allies and to consider imposing tariffs on rare earths and critical minerals with other trade partners.
The new directives come in response to an investigation that began in 2025 which found that the import of critical minerals and their derivatives are a threat to national security.
Separately, according to Axios, a bipartisan coalition in Congress is set to introduce a landmark bill on Thursday that would establish a $2.5 billion Strategic Resilience Reserve—a domestic stockpile of critical minerals designed to insulate the American economy from price manipulation and supply shocks.
The SECURE Minerals Act will be introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN). The bill proposes an independent board—modeled after the Federal Reserve—to oversee the acquisition and storage of lithium, nickel and rare earths essential for defense systems and EVs.
“Creating this reserve is a much-needed, aggressive step to protect our national and economic security,” Young told Axios.
5 Stocks to Watch
As federal funding, “Buy American” mandates and trade restrictions intensify, these five companies are positioned at the center of the domestic rare earth supply chain:
1. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP)
As the only integrated mine-to-magnet producer in the Western Hemisphere, MP remains the champion of the domestic rare earths sector.
With its Mountain Pass mine in California and a major magnet facility in Texas, MP has already received hundreds of millions in government-backed investment and offtake agreements.
2. Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ:CRML)
Critical Metals controls the Tanbreez project in Greenland, one of the world’s largest rare earth deposits.
The Trump administration’s renewed interest in Greenland’s resources has put CRML stock at the center of Arctic security plays, making it a breakout star of early 2026.
3. USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR)
Focused on the Round Top deposit in Texas, USA Rare Earth is a primary target for government support due to its high concentration of heavy rare earths.
Management has recently accelerated production timelines to 2028 to align with the administration’s emergency energy directives.
4. Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC)
While primarily a lithium play via the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, Lithium Americas is a blueprint for the current administration’s strategy.
The U.S. government has taken a significant equity stake in the company, proving that critical minerals are viewed as a single, unified national security asset.
5. Trilogy Metals Inc. (AMEX:TMQ)
Trilogy has gained significant momentum following direct U.S. government equity injections in 2025. Its projects in Alaska’s Ambler Mining District are seen as essential for diversifying the supply of not just rare earths, but also copper and cobalt, which are needed for the defense industrial base.
Photo: Shutterstock
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