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In Washington, the hottest new club is all about critical minerals.

Officials from more than 50 countries descended on Washington this week to attend the Trump administration’s inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, marking one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s biggest pushes to forge new supply chains independent of China.

In Washington, the hottest new club is all about critical minerals.

Officials from more than 50 countries descended on Washington this week to attend the Trump administration’s inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, marking one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s biggest pushes to forge new supply chains independent of China.

Speaking to dozens of officials from around the world at the event’s opening remarks on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance pitched a global minerals “preferential trade zone” that would use tariffs to set price floors—which would help shield supply chains from whipsawing prices or other market disruptions—and grant members access to critical minerals and financing.

“Together, we want members to form a trading bloc among allies and partners, one that guarantees American access to American industrial might, while also expanding production across the entire zone,” Vance said.

“What is before all of us is an opportunity at self-reliance, that we never have to rely on anybody else, except for each other, for the critical minerals necessary to sustain our industries and to sustain growth,” he........

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