Mexico Joins Global Effort to Strengthen Mineral Supply Chains

Minister of Finance Édgar Amador participated in a high-level meeting in Washington, D.C., with finance ministers from around the world to discuss strategies for strengthening the security and resilience of critical mineral supply chains, essential for modern technology, clean energy, and national security.

According to  Zamora, he engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing financial coordination with the United States and other countries “within a framework of mutual understanding and strategic cooperation.” The talks focused on finding solutions to develop and invest in mechanisms that diversify global critical mineral supply chains, with the goal of making them more resilient.

In addition to Mexico, the meeting included finance and economy ministers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, as well as the European Commissioner and India’s representative.

During the meeting, participants highlighted that key metals, including lithium, cobalt, aluminum, and uranium, are critical for modern technologies, clean energy, defense systems, and industrial applications. Many of these minerals face supply vulnerabilities due to scarcity, dependence on a limited number of sources, or the lack of viable substitutes, underlining their importance for both security and sustainable economic development.

US List of Critical Minerals

On Nov. 6, The US Department of the Interior, through the US Geological Survey (USGS), released the final 2025 List of Critical Minerals, identifying 60 minerals deemed essential to the US economy and national security that face potential supply chain risks. According to USGS Director Ned Mamula, this represents the most comprehensive, science-based evaluation to date of the minerals the country relies on.

The final list, developed using updated assessment methods, adds 10 new minerals: boron, copper, lead, metallurgical coal, phosphate, potash, rhenium, silicon, silver, and uranium. The 2025 update marks the third iteration since the effort began under President Trump’s 2017 Executive Order 13817, which directed federal agencies to strengthen US mineral security. The Energy Act of 2020 further mandates that the list be reviewed at least every three years to reflect evolving supply conditions, making the list a dynamic tool for planning and policy.

Rare earth elements remain a central focus of the 2025 List. Disruptions in these minerals would impose the greatest cost on the US economy, as they are critical to technologies such as smartphones, hard drives, and advanced defense systems. In 2024, the United States imported 80% of its rare earth needs. In response, the federal government has pursued measures to strengthen domestic production and secure access through international partners including Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. Simultaneously, the USGS is mapping new domestic deposits and advancing research to better understand how geology affects the quality, size, and extractability of these resources.