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General Market Commentary
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General Energy
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General Market Commentary
U.S. confirms list of 35 key minerals, targets domestic supply boost
TORONTO (Reuters) - Uranium and key rechargeable battery metals lithium and cobalt are on a final list of 35 critical minerals that the United States deems essential to its economic and national security and wants to produce more of domestically.
The Department of Commerce will use the list, which was published by the Interior Department on Friday and which confirms a draft issued in February, for a report that responds to a December presidential order to break U.S. dependence on foreign minerals.
The Trump administration wants to identify new domestic sources of critical minerals; increase domestic exploration, mining and recycling; give miners and producers electronic access to better mapping and geological data; and streamline leasing and permitting for new mines.
The list, which also includes aluminum bauxite, platinum group metals, and potash, will periodically be updated for changes in policy, supply, demand and concentration of production, the Interior Department said.