A top State Department official leading President Donald Trump’s international mineral strategy is likely to face questions during a hearing Tuesday about the administration’s foray into private ownership, a $12 billion stockpile and other efforts to combat Chinese dominance.
Jacob Helberg, undersecretary of State for economic growth, energy and the environment, will appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He’s also scheduled to brief Senate Foreign Relations members later this week in a closed session.
Helberg in recent months has unveiled policies the administration is advancing to shore up alliances and boost mineral prices to secure raw materials that Beijing controls.
Last week, for example, Helberg told Bloomberg that federal agencies have developed a critical minerals price floor system, which they are pitching to allies and partners.
