The US Department of the Interior has added copper, silver and metallurgical coal to its list of “critical minerals”, increasing the likelihood that these materials could be included in future tariff policies.
The three materials are among 10 elements added on Thursday to the list, which is updated every three years by the US Geological Survey. The list determines which minerals are included in the upcoming Section 232 tariff review of levies applied for national security purposes. It also plays a role in determining which domestic projects may receive federal support.
The Trump administration has made it a top priority to secure the supply chains of critical minerals used in the US, and greatly expanded the definition of what constitutes a “critical” mineral.