--- title: "U.S. agencies recommend adding copper and potash to the critical minerals list to pave the way for broader policy support" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/254516860.md" description: "The United States Geological Survey recommends adding copper and potash to the list of critical minerals for broader policy support. This proposal includes copper alongside minerals such as lead, rhenium, silicon, and silver in the 2025 version of the list, aiming to provide funding incentives for exploration and mining projects and streamline the approval process. Copper is seen as fundamental to electrification and clean energy, while potash is an important fertilizer for crops. Following the announcement, the stock prices of related fertilizer companies rose" datetime: "2025-08-26T00:14:03.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/254516860.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/254516860.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/254516860.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # U.S. agencies recommend adding copper and potash to the critical minerals list to pave the way for broader policy support According to the Zhitong Finance APP, the U.S. Geological Survey has recommended adding copper and potash to the draft list of critical minerals, paving the way for broader policy support for these industries. According to a notice soliciting public comments in the Federal Register, these two minerals are included in the 2025 version of the list of 54 critical minerals alongside lead, rhenium, silicon, and silver. The U.S. Geological Survey also stated that it plans to analyze the possibility of including uranium and metallurgical coal in the list. Arsenic and tellurium have been recommended for removal. The copper industry has strongly advocated for copper to be classified as a critical mineral to reflect the importance of this metal to the economy and national security. Inclusion on the list would help provide funding incentives for exploration, mining, and processing projects, as well as streamline the approval process. The Trump administration has prioritized the restoration of U.S. metal and mineral production. Copper is particularly in focus, as this metal is widely used in households, power grids, and transportation. The final list is expected to be published within 30 days. The National Mining Association praised the inclusion of these minerals, which are critical to infrastructure, national security, and technological leadership, while stating that all minerals should be regarded as critical resources. Juan Ignacio Diaz, president of the International Copper Association, stated: "Copper fully meets this description: it is the foundation of electrification, defense, and clean energy, and its supply chain is under increasing pressure. Recognizing the importance of copper is beneficial for the U.S. as it strengthens the foundation of U.S. competitiveness and energy transition." The Fertilizer Association has also been advocating for potash to be classified as a critical mineral to better seek tariff exemptions. The Trump administration issued a separate executive order in March this year supporting the increase of domestic production of minerals, including potash. Potash is an important fertilizer for crops. Most of the potash used in the U.S. comes from Canada, accounting for about 80% of its imports. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, this potash has so far been unaffected by tariffs. Following the announcement, fertilizer company stocks rose, with Mosaic (MOS.US) briefly up 4.5% and Nutrien (NTR.US) briefly up 2.9%, although both gains subsequently narrowed. The U.S. Department of the Interior stated that the 50 minerals in the draft list were included based on the results of economic impact assessments, while zircon was included due to the potential for single points of failure in the domestic supply chain. Three other minerals were retained after qualitative assessments. The department stated: "On the U.S. balance sheet, even the loss of one critical mineral could ripple through entire industries, from semiconductors to defense systems, thereby weakening production capacity, technological leadership, and U.S. job opportunities." ### Related Stocks - [000893.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/000893.CN.md) ## Related News & Research - [On converging and systemic crises](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296027930.md) - [Buffalo Potash spuds first horizontal well at Disley potash IPM in Saskatchewan](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296218431.md) - [Junxin Refiles For Hong Kong IPO To Expand Overseas](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296494509.md) - [Should Burnham dash for an early election?](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296051112.md) - [Scott Bessent’s tariff case hinges on relief for indebted households](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296028829.md) --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**