US Goes on Shopping Spree for Critical Minerals Assets to Circumvent Chinese Embargo
Critical Metals Corporation was recently listed on Nasdaq (NSDQ: CRML) in 2024 and now owns the #Tanbreez mine which holds the largest Rare Earth Elements (#REE) deposits in Greenland. According to some reports, the Trump administration is in talks to take a stake in Tanbreez #RareEarths project. With a view to secure and diversify sources of #CriticalMinearals, the Trump Administration has recently taken stakes in Lithium Americas and MP Materials.
In the same vein, Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC) is a Canadian company which operates #ThakerPass, which is the largest #lithium mine in the US situated in Humboldt County in the state of Nevada. On 24 September 2025, the US Department of Energy announced it has reached an agreement for the US government to take a 5% in Lithium Americas 2025. The deal comes after the Trump Administration renegotiated the terms of a USD 2.26 billion government loan for Lithium Americas. It is also worth noting that US car maker GM is both a shareholder and offtaker of Lithium Americas.
Back in July 2025, the US Department of Defense took a 15% equity stake in MP Materials for a sum of USD 400 million. MP Materials operates the #MountainPass mine, which is ranked as one of the richest deposits of #REE in the world.
At one point, Trump welcomed Greenland and Canada to become part of the United States of America, but the request was met with ridicule or resentment. The #Tanbreez mine stands out as ‘there is noting close at the moment’ and various lobby groups have been trying to convince Washington to invest in this project.
In June 2025, Critical Metals applied for a USD 50 million grant under the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era legislation designed to boost production of critical goods needed for National Security.
It has come to light that the Trump Administration and Critical Minerals are in talks to convert the grant into equity stake. Critical Metals acquired the rights to Tanbreez for USD 5 million in cash and USD 211 in stock. Thus, if the deal goes ahead, the USD 50 million would turn into roughly 8% of ownership in the company.