The US government will expand its equity investment in key mineral enterprises to strengthen strategic supply chain layout.

White House officials in the United States said on Thursday that the government plans to further acquire stakes in key mineral companies, a practice that has not been common in the past but is becoming a new tool to enhance supply chain security and technology industry development. Because these minerals play a crucial role in semiconductors, medical devices, industrial manufacturing, and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. technology, the United States believes it is necessary to ensure long-term, stable, and controllable sources of supply. Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Commission, stated at a forum in Washington that an increasing number of mineral and materials companies are actively seeking government cooperation to establish a more robust industrial base for the United States in the global competition for critical resources. He pointed out that such investments will become more common in the future, and companies can gain more confidence from government backing. Over the past year, the U.S. government has invested over $1 billion in acquiring stakes in several key mineral and mining companies, involving rare metals, battery materials, and high-performance magnets, among other related fields. These transactions include acquiring a 15% stake in MP Materials (MP.US) for $400 million, investing $670 million in magnet manufacturer Vulcan Materials Company (VMC.US), and acquiring a 10% stake in Canadian mining company Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US) for $35.6 million. In addition, the government also announced in September an investment in Lithium Americas (LAC.US) to assist in restructuring a large loan with the Department of Energy. Agen, in an interview after the forum, declined to reveal the next potential investment target but emphasized that this strategy of strengthening the supply chain through equity investment is becoming an important part of the United States' efforts to promote manufacturing and key technology development. He stated that through the government's actual investment, companies can be provided with greater momentum in technological breakthroughs, resource development, and production expansion, which also helps to enhance the overall resilience of the U.S. supply chain. Against the backdrop of growing demand for key minerals, cooperation between the U.S. government and companies is accelerating. Industries such as missile guidance systems, radar, jet engines, electric vehicles, and energy storage all require large quantities of high-performance metals and materials. The equity investment model under policy guidance is becoming an important tool for the United States to build a more complete mineral supply system and support the development of emerging industries. At an economic forum held in Washington and attended by several large technology and financial companies, U.S. officials emphasized that they will continue to explore more ways to collaborate with the industry in the future, and through dual support from capital and policy, build a more secure foundation for the supply of critical materials.