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The United States has officially added copper and silver to its expanded list of critical minerals deemed vital to the country’s economy and national security.
The updated list, released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), features 10 new entries compared to the 2022 version, bringing the total number of designated critical minerals to 60.
According to Mining.com, other newly included commodities are uranium, metallurgical coal, potash, rhenium, silicon, and lead.
“The addition of copper and silver confirms the earlier draft list provided by the USGS,” the report noted.
The USGS explained that the list was developed using an economic modeling system designed to assess the potential impact of foreign trade disruptions on mineral supply chains.
The analysis covered 84 mineral commodities, 402 industries, and over 1,200 simulated scenarios, offering what the agency described as a more data-driven framework for policymakers.
The critical minerals list is an important policy tool that helps determine which commodities may be subject to investigation or trade action under Section 232 of U.S. trade law — potentially leading to tariffs or restrictions, as seen with copper earlier this year.
The designation is also expected to influence future U.S. investments in mining, mineral recovery from waste and stockpiles, tax incentives for processing, and efforts to streamline mine permitting.
The update comes just days after Washington and Beijing agreed to ease tensions over rare earth minerals, which now make up about 15 of the 60 entries — roughly one quarter — on the revised USGS list.
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