US DOC sets out strategy for crucial commodities

The recommendations are made in an interagency report A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals. The report was prepared in response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in December 2017 to reduce the country's dependence on imports of such commodities. It follows a previous report from the Department of Interior, also required under the executive order, which designated 35 mineral commodities including uranium, titanium and rare earth elements as critical to the USA's economic and national security. "These critical minerals are often overlooked but modern life without them would be impossible," Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said. "Through the recommendations detailed in this report, the Federal government will take unprecedented action to ensure that the United States will not be cut off from these vital materials."