President Donald Trump is expected to meet with mining executives at a public event at the State Department on Friday to tout his administration’s efforts to expand critical minerals supplies, according to four people familiar with the planning.
The meeting comes as the Trump administration has made wresting away from China critical minerals supply chains a key priority. Over the last year, it has announced massive deals to take equity stakes in minerals companies and a separate $12 billion stockpiling initiative. Still, an International Energy Agency report last month found mineral supply chains have continued to grow more concentrated in top producers like China and Indonesia.
Around 150 people had been invited to attend the State Department event, said one of the people familiar with the planning, who like others was granted anonymity to discuss the plans that have not been made public yet.
The White House and State Department declined to comment on the event. The Energy Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
