International cooperation to secure critical mineral supply chains

(a)

Statement of policy on critical mineral supply chains

It is the policy of the United States— (1)to collaborate with allies and partners of the United States to build secure and resilient critical minerals supply chains, including in the mining, processing, and valuation of critical minerals, as well as with respect to advanced manufacturing that includes critical minerals; (2)to prioritize the development and production of critical minerals domestically, both to supply domestic needs and for export to allies and partners that participate in secure and resilient supply chains for critical minerals; (3)to reduce or eliminate reliance and dependence on critical mineral supply chains controlled by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Russian Federation, Iran, or any other strategic competitor of the United States; (4)to work with allies and partners on enhancing evaluation capability and technology in trusted countries that produce critical minerals to avoid the export of mined and processed critical minerals to adversaries of the United States; (5)to identify and implement market-based incentives for the purposes of facilitating the creation and maintenance of secure and resilient critical mineral supply chains in collaboration with allies and partners; (6)to prioritize securing critical mineral supply chains in United States foreign policy, including through the use of economic tools to invest responsibly in projects in partner countries in a manner that both benefits local populations and bolsters the supply of critical minerals to the United States and allies and partners of the United States; and (7)that collaboration with allies and partners to build secure and resilient critical mineral supply chains shall not replace United States efforts to increase domestic development and production of critical minerals. (b)

International negotiations relating to protecting critical mineral supply chains

(1)

In general

The President is authorized to negotiate an agreement with international partners for the purposes of establishing a coalition— (A)to facilitate— (i)the mining, processing, and supply of critical minerals; and (ii)advanced manufacturing that includes critical minerals; and (B)to secure an adequate supply of critical minerals and relevant products, manufacturing inputs, and components that are heavily dependent on critical mineral resources for the United States and other members of the coalition (in this subsection referred to as member countries). (2)

Negotiating objectives

The overall objectives for negotiating an agreement described in paragraph (1) should be— (A)to establish mechanisms for member countries to build secure and resilient supply chains for critical minerals, including in— (i)the mining, refinement, processing, and valuation of critical minerals; and (ii)advanced manufacturing of products, components, and materials that are dependent on critical minerals; (B)to improve economies of scale and joint cooperation with international partners in securing access and means of production throughout the supply chains of critical minerals and manufacturing processes dependent on critical minerals; (C)to establish mechanisms, with appropriate market-based disciplines, that provide and maintain opportunities among member countries for creating industry economies of scale to attract joint investment among those countries, including— (i)cooperation on joint projects, including cost-sharing on building appropriate infrastructure to access deposits of critical minerals; and (ii)creation or enhancement of national and international programs to support the development of robust industries by providing appropriate sector-specific incentives, such as political risk and other insurance opportunities, financing, and other support, for— (I)mining and processing critical minerals; (II)manufacturing of products, components, and materials that are dependent on critical minerals and are essential to consumer technology products or have important national security implications; and (III)associated transportation needs that are tailored to the handling, movement, and logistics management of critical minerals and products, components, and materials that are dependent on critical minerals; (D)to establish market-based rules for member countries regarding adoption of qualifying tax and other incentives to stimulate investment, as balanced by market-based disciplines to ensure a fair playing field among those countries; (E)to establish recommended best practices to protect— (i)labor rights; (ii)the natural environment and ecosystems near critical mineral industrial sites; and (iii)safety of communities near critical mineral industrial activities; (F)to advance economic growth in developing countries with critical mineral reserves, including for the benefit of the citizens of those countries; (G)to establish rules allowing for the establishment of a consortium that is resourced and empowered to bid and compete in acquiring and securing potential deposits of critical minerals in countries that are not members of the coalition described in paragraph (1) (in this subsection referred to as nonmember countries); (H)to establish a mechanism for joint resource mapping with procedures for equitable sharing of information on potential deposits of critical minerals not less frequently than annually; (I)to establish appropriate mechanisms for the recognition and enforcement by a member country of judgments relating to environmental and related harms caused by mining operations within such member country in contravention of that country’s laws; and (J)to improve supply chain security among member countries by providing for national treatment investment protections among those countries that are equal to, or better than, the standards in the United States model bilateral investment treaty. (c)

Minerals security partnership authorization

(1)

In general

The Secretary of State, acting through the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, is authorized to lead United States participation in the Minerals Security Partnership, for the following purposes: (A)To identify and support investment and advocate for commercial critical mineral mining, processing, and refining projects that enable robust and secure critical mineral supply chains, in consultation with other Federal agencies, as appropriate. (B)To coordinate with relevant regional bureaus to develop regional diplomatic engagement strategies related to critical minerals projects and to identify projects that are priorities. (C)To coordinate with United States missions abroad on projects, programs, and investments that enable robust and secure critical mineral supply chains. (D)To coordinate with current and prospective members of the Minerals Security Partnership. (E)To establish a mechanism for information-sharing with members of the Minerals Security Partnership. (F)To establish policies and procedures, and if necessary, to provide funding to facilitate cooperation on joint projects with members of the Minerals Security Partnership and the Mineral Security Forum, including those related to cost-sharing agreements, political risk insurance, financing, equity investments, and other support, in coordination with other Federal agencies, as appropriate. (G)If an agreement described in subsection (b) is entered into, to support the establishment of the coalition described in that subsection. (2)

Database

As part of the Minerals Security Partnership, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, is authorized to establish and maintain a database of critical mineral projects for the purpose of providing high quality and up-to-date information to the private sector in order to spur greater investment, increase the resilience of global critical minerals supply chains, and boost United States supply. (3)

Qualifications for personnel

With respect to staffing personnel to carry out the Minerals Security Partnership, the Secretary shall prioritize individuals with the following qualifications: (A)Substantive knowledge and experience in issues related to critical minerals supply chain and their application to strategic industries, including in the defense, energy, and technology sectors. (B)Substantive knowledge and experience in large-scale multi-donor project financing and related technical and diplomatic arrangements, international coalition-building, and project management. (C)Substantive knowledge and experience in trade and foreign policy, defense-industrial base policy, or national security-sensitive supply chain issues. (4)

Private sector and civil society coordination

The Secretary of State shall ensure close coordination between the Department of State, the private sector, and relevant civil society groups on the implementation of this subsection. (5)

Project selection

(A)

In general

The United States, through its participation in the Minerals Security Partnership, shall prioritize projects that advance the national and economic security interests of the United States and allies and partners of the United States. (B)

Criteria requirements

The United States shall advocate for the Minerals Security Partnership to use environmental, social, or governance standards, including as criteria for project selection, that are consistent with United States law or international agreements approved by Congress. (d)

United states membership in the international nickel study group

(1)

United states membership

The President is authorized to accept the Terms of Reference of and maintain membership of the United States in the International Nickel Study Group (INSG). (2)

Payments of assessed contributions

For fiscal year 2026 and thereafter, the United States assessed contributions to the INSG may be paid from funds appropriated for Contributions to International Organizations. (e)

Critical mineral defined

In this section, the term critical mineral— (1)has the meaning given the term in section 7002 of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606); and (2)includes any other mineral or mineral material determined by the Secretary of State— (A)to be essential to the economic or national security of the United States; and (B)to have a supply chain vulnerable to disruption. (f)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to enhance critical mineral supply chain security, including to implement this section.