The Pentagon is moving to acquire up to US$1 billion worth of critical minerals as part of an accelerated stockpiling drive to reduce US dependence on China, citing public filings from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The Trump administration directed the Defense Department to expand the national stockpile after Beijing tightened export controls on materials vital to defense and high-tech industries. China dominates global supply chains for metals used in fighter jets, radar systems, and smartphones.

Beijing’s new export restrictions on rare earths prompted US President Donald Trump to cancel a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and pledge a 100% tariff on Chinese imports. China mines more than half of the world’s rare earths and controls over 90% of processing capacity.