The U.S. Defense Production Act | Why America needs to do more if it wants to secure a steady supply of critical minerals

The United States Defense Production Act (DPA) is the main tool at the disposal of the President of the United States to steer economic activity toward U.S. national defense priorities. The law gives the President the power to order companies to produce goods and supply services necessary to support national security.

On 31 March President Biden signed an executive order to invoke the DPA to alleviate shortages of critical minerals needed for defense and energy purposes.

What does this mean for players in the critical minerals supply chain, and will it help the U.S. government to close the gap with industry leader China and gain more control of its own critical minerals supply chain? Does the DPA solve all of America’s supply chain challenges?

Find out in the latest Op-Ed by HCSS Strategic Advisor Energy & Raw Materials Jeff Amrish Ritoe.