USGS Draft List Adds Copper, Potash to US Critical Minerals

The U.S. Geological Survey, an arm of the Interior Department, released a draft 2025 List of Critical Minerals in the Federal Register on 25 Aug. The proposal would add copper, potash, silver, lead and silicon to the roster, expanding it to 54 minerals considered essential to the economy and national security. Inclusion on the list can make mining and processing projects eligible for federal funding, streamlined permitting and import fee advantages. The agency has opened a 30-day public comment period before finalising the lineup, a step that has historically confirmed rather than reversed proposed additions. Copper is widely used in the electric grid, defense systems and transportation, while potash is a key fertiliser nutrient that the United States largely imports from Canada. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s push to bolster domestic metals and minerals supply chains and lessen reliance on foreign sources.