President Trump’s latest executive orders have sent shockwaves through the global rare earths industry, breaking China’s decades-long grip and launching a surge of new mining efforts across the globe. From the U.S. heartland to Brazil’s clay-rich hills, the world is pivoting fast—thanks to aggressive American policy.
In March 2025, President Trump activated the Defense Production Act to fast-track U.S. production of critical minerals like rare earths, uranium, copper, potash, and gold. By April, a second order titled “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources” cleared the way for accelerated mineral extraction from offshore U.S. seabeds and supported allied deep-sea mining operations.
The result: American companies, backed by new legal muscle, have ceased shipping minerals to China. MP Materials, the nation’s only rare earth processor, is building a magnet facility in Texas and has joined forces with Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden to develop a local supply chain.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s Serra Verde project—fueled by U.S. investment—is rapidly scaling up production of heavy rare earths. These resources, vital for military tech and green energy hardware, have become the frontline of an economic Cold War.
This surge marks a dramatic strategic turn. With Beijing’s supply chains under pressure, U.S.-led efforts are setting the stage for a more secure, independent future in critical minerals.
