In an effort to challenge China’s control over critical battery minerals and rare earth supply chains, the Trump administration is drafting an executive order to stockpile metals extracted from the Pacific Ocean seabed.

The US is seeking to reduce its reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals. Under President Trump, the administration has pressured Ukraine to agree to a minerals deal, floated the idea of acquiring Greenland and hinted at annexing parts of Canada, all while rolling out measures to boost domestic production.

The proposed stockpile, according to the Financial Times, would ensure that key materials are readily available on US soil in the event of a conflict that disrupts Chinese exports. The move follows Beijing’s recent decision to impose export restrictions on certain rare earth elements, a response to Trump’s latest tariff measures.

Rare earths are essential for technologies ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles and military hardware. With China currently responsible for about 90% of global refined output, Washington’s reliance on imports has long been a strategic vulnerability.

The executive order would also support fast-tracking deep-sea mining applications and expanding domestic processing capacity, according to the report. Neither the White House nor China’s foreign ministry have commented on the matter.

Responding to US tariffs imposed by President Trump, China has broadened its sweeping export restrictions on strategic minerals vital to defense, clean energy and high-tech sectors. The move underscores Beijing’s growing readiness to weaponize its dominance over global mineral supply chains as trade tensions with Washington intensify.

With the US escalating tariffs, China has increasingly targeted critical American supply chains by curbing access to rare and specialised metals. Elements like antimony, gallium and germanium have already been drawn into the trade dispute, with Beijing restricting their export and banning sales to the US.

Last week, China imposed export controls on seven categories of medium and heavy rare earth elements — including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium-related compounds.

According to Reuters, these minerals are essential for manufacturing high-performance permanent magnets used in defense applications, electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.

China produces around 90% of the world’s refined rare earths, a group of 17 elements used across the defense, electric vehicle, clean energy and electronics industries. The US imports most of its rare earths, and most come from China.

With inputs from agencies