Country Intelligence
United States
United States stands out in this dataset through policy leverage over trade and investment, named industrial and corporate presence, and processing and refining capacity, with its strongest relevance showing up in Neodymium, Gold, and Germanium.
This country matters primarily because it can influence market access, investment flows, and compliance rules across strategic materials.
Strategic Read
Policy driver
United States matters less as a dominant mine supplier and more as a country that can shape market access, compliance, and investment signals.
Policy events
15
Materials covered
8
Leading materials
Overview
Why United States matters
Primary read
Policy driver
Why it matters
United States matters less as a dominant mine supplier and more as a country that can shape market access, compliance, and investment signals.
What to watch
Watch policy changes, permitting, and trade rules alongside any shift in Neodymium exposure.
Coverage signals
Materials covered
8
Linked policy events
15
Refining appearances
5
Named companies
9
These are dataset signals showing how often United States appears across strategic materials research, not official reserve or production totals.
Mining / upstream supply
Moderate
1
Refining / processing
Very High
5
Policy leverage
Very High
15
Industrial presence
Very High
9
Material Exposure
Where United States appears in the dataset
Neodymium
Integrated upstream and refining presence
Neodymium matters here because of producer signal: ~15% mining, refining share: 1%, and 1 named player.
Producer signal
~15% mining
Refining share
1%
Gold
Processing and refining relevance
Gold matters here because of refining share: 8% and 1 named player.
Refining share
8%
Germanium
Processing and refining relevance
Germanium matters here because of refining share: 1% (~12), 4 named players, and appears in chokepoint analysis.
Refining share
1% · ~12
Copper
Processing and refining relevance
Copper matters here because of refining share: 4% and 1 named player.
Refining share
4%
Graphite
Processing and refining relevance
Graphite matters here because of refining share: 1% and 1 named player.
Refining share
1%
Gallium
Corporate and industrial relevance
Gallium matters here because of 2 named players and appears in chokepoint analysis.
Cobalt
Corporate and industrial relevance
Cobalt matters here because of 1 named player.
Tungsten
Supply-chain source relevance
Tungsten is one of the materials where this country appears in the intelligence dataset.
Production & Refining
Industrial footprint by material
| Material | Roles | Producer signal | Refining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neodymium | Producer, Source, Refiner, Key Player | ~15% mining | 1% |
| Gold | Source, Refiner, Key Player | N/A | 8% |
| Germanium | Refiner, Key Player, Chokepoint | N/A | 1% · ~12 |
| Copper | Source, Refiner, Key Player | N/A | 4% |
| Graphite | Source, Refiner, Key Player | N/A | 1% |
| Gallium | Key Player, Chokepoint | N/A | N/A |
| Cobalt | Source, Key Player | N/A | N/A |
| Tungsten | Source | N/A | N/A |
Key Players
Companies and industrial actors linked to United States
AXT Inc
USA
GaAs and InP substrate manufacturer; sources gallium globally
II-VI (Coherent)
USA
III-V semiconductor compound manufacturing
Corning
USA
World's largest optical fiber manufacturer; GeO₂ core dopant consumer
Mirion Technologies
USA
HPGe gamma-ray detectors for nuclear security and medical imaging
MP Materials
USA
Only active US rare earth mine (Mountain Pass, CA); building separation capacity
GE Aerospace
USA
Superalloy turbine blades; LEAP and GE9X engines
Freeport-McMoRan
USA
Grasberg (Indonesia) and Morenci (US); major global producer
Newmont
USA
World's largest gold miner; ~6 Moz/year production
Novonix
Australia/USA
Synthetic graphite anode development in US
Policy Activity
Relevant policy and regulation
Jan 2027
US IRA FEOC Exemption Expires
United States · US Government
EV batteries containing Chinese-processed graphite will completely lose access to the $7,500 tax credit. Major forcing function for Western anode supply.
2025
US Section 301 Tariffs
United States · US Trade Representative
25% tariffs applied to Chinese tungsten products (carbides, concentrates, oxides) to counter dependency and spur allied supply chains.
Nov 2025
Added to US Critical Minerals List
United States · US Dept of the Interior (USGS)
First-time inclusion for Silver, reflecting its vital role in defense, grids, PV, and advanced electronics, plus a 64% US import reliance.
Nov 9, 2025
China suspends germanium ban to US
China · MOFCOM (China)
Temporary relief through Nov 27, 2026. Licensing regime continues. Market uncertainty persists.
Jan 2025
USGS confirms export ban in Mineral Commodity Summaries
China · USGS
Official confirmation of China's ban; highlights 100% US import dependency.
2023–2024
CDA recalculates copper supply risk above USGS criticality threshold
United States · Copper Development Association (US)
Applying USGS methodology, copper's supply risk score rose from 0.334 (2018) to 0.488 (2023), exceeding the 0.40 threshold. Argues copper should be added to the 2025 USGS Critical Minerals List.
Dec 2024
China bans gallium exports to the United States
China · MOFCOM (China)
Complete ban on Ga shipments to US. Further tightening of supply for American semiconductor manufacturers.
Dec 3, 2024
China bans germanium exports to the United States
China · MOFCOM (Announcement No. 46)
Complete ban. Prices reach $2,850-3,000/kg (99.999%). US scrambles for alternative sources.
May 2024
DFARS final rule on covered magnets procurement restrictions
United States · U.S. Department of Defense
Through 2026: restrictions on magnets "melted or produced" in covered nations. From 2027: expanded to "mined, refined, separated, melted, or produced."
May 2024
US Treasury Grants Graphite Exemption until 2027
United States · US Treasury
Acknowledging the impossibility of sourcing non-Chinese anodes immediately, the US grants a 2-year grace period for graphite tracing under the FEOC rules.
Aug 2022
US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
United States · US Government
Sets strict local sourcing requirements for battery components to qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit, targeting Chinese anode dominance.
Aug 2022
US Inflation Reduction Act signed into law
China · US Congress
EV tax credit ($7,500) requires 40–80% FTA-sourced critical minerals (2023–2027). Only 8% of refined cobalt is IRA-compliant. Excludes China, DRC, Indonesia.
Sep 2021
Section 232 investigation initiated on NdFeB magnet imports
United States · U.S. Department of Commerce / BIS
Formal investigation into national security impact of NdFeB magnet imports. Documents qualification barriers and supply chain vulnerabilities.
Feb 2021
Executive Order 14017 triggers DOE rare earth magnet supply chain review
United States · U.S. Department of Energy
DOE frames comprehensive NdFeB magnet supply-chain assessment, quantifying concentration risks and substitution difficulty.
Ongoing
US & EU Critical Mineral Designation
European Union · USGS & European Commission
Classified as critical due to high economic importance and extreme supply risk, triggering mapping and strategic funding.
Structural Risks
Chokepoints and concentration notes
Gallium: Export licensing (Aug 2023) + US ban (Dec 2024)
Gallium: 100% US import dependency (USGS)
Germanium: US has zero primary refining capacity