Trump Launches $12 Billion Minerals Stockpile to Counter China

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Bloomberg's Joe Deaux said that the president is preparing to build up the United States' strategic critical-minerals stockpile by launching a $12 billion fund to sure up supply in cases of emergency. Deaux said that while the US is preparing the stockpile to counter reliance on China, it remains unclear to private-sector companies and investors the impact it could have in the long run. President Donald Trump is set to launch a strategic critical-minerals stockpile with $12 billion in seed money, a bid to insulate manufacturers from supply shocks as the US works to slash its reliance on Chinese rare earths and other metals.  The venture — dubbed Project Vault — is set to marry $1.67 billion in private capital with a $10 billion loan from the US Export-Import Bank to procure and store the minerals for automakers, tech firms and other manufacturers.  US rare-earths stocks jumped in premarket trading upon news of the administration’s plan, including USA Rare Earth Inc., Critical Metals Corp., United States Antimony Corp. and NioCorp Developments Ltd. Details of the initiative, which would represent a first-of-its-kind stockpile for the US private sector, were described by senior administration officials, who asked not to be identified discussing a plan that has yet to be announced. The effort is akin to the nation’s existing emergency oil stockpile. But instead of crude, its focus would be minerals — such as gallium and cobalt — used in products such as iPhones, batteries and jet engines. The stockpile is expected to include both rare earths and critical minerals as well as other strategically important elements that are subject to volatile prices. It represents a major commitment to accumulate minerals deemed critical to the industrial economy — including the automotive, aerospace and energy sectors — and highlights Trump’s effort to wean US supply chains from China, the world’s dominant provider and processor of critical minerals.  -------- Watch Bloomberg Radio LIVE on YouTube Weekdays 7am-6pm ET WATCH HERE: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/BloombergRadio Subscribe to our Podcasts: Bloomberg Daybreak: http://bit.ly/3DWYoAN Bloomberg Surveillance: http://bit.ly/3OPtReI Bloomberg Intelligence: http://bit.ly/3YrBfOi Balance of Power: http://bit.ly/3OO8eLC Bloomberg Businessweek: http://bit.ly/3IPl60i Listen on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the Bloomberg Business app: Apple CarPlay: https://apple.co/486mghI Android Auto: https://bit.ly/49benZy Visit our YouTube channels: Bloomberg Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/bloombergpodcasts Bloomberg Television: https://www.youtube.com/@markets Bloomberg Originals: https://www.youtube.com/bloomberg Quicktake: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergQuicktake