If the February 4, 2026, U.S. inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial—which brought representatives from over 50 nations to Washington, D.C. to cooperate on critical mineral supply chains—was an indication of anything, it was that 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for when, how, and where the materials that power the modern economy are produced.
That unprecedented gathering underscored how governments now view critical mineral security as one of the most urgent national security challenges—just as the higher-value steps of processing and manufacturing remain concentrated in only a few hubs. Critical Minerals: The Western Hemisphere’s Opportunity argues that the Americas can convert their copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, rare earth elements, antimony, potash and manganese endowment into resilient, high-standard supply chains—but only if governments move quickly to align permitting, investment incentives, “club” and trade frameworks.
The report maps where the real chokepoints sit (especially midstream processing), why market shocks and export controls are reshaping access, and what a practical hemispheric blueprint looks like—from time-certain permitting and price-risk tools to social license, ESG standards, and traceability that buyers increasingly require.
Critical Minerals: The Western Hemisphere’s Opportunity is intended as a reference for senior policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and regulators across the Americas and beyond as they confront the next stage of critical mineral security—and its deepening connection to economic competitiveness, energy transition goals, and national security.
What you will find in the report
- A clear picture of where diversification is happening– and where it isn’t across mining, processing, and manufacturing.
- A grounded case for why the Western Hemisphere is uniquely positioned (resource base, lower-carbon power in many grids, and dense trade/investment ties).
- A practical framework for how rules, incentives, and alliances determine outcomes—plus real-world policy tools that can make projects bankable.
- Why environmental risk and social license are now core supply-security variables—and how to treat them as a competitive advantage.
- A nine-point checklist that distills what successful regimes have in common, and how the Americas can move from raw endowment to strategic leverage.
Key Questions
- How can the Americas capture more value at home when processing remains heavily concentrated?
- What mix of permitting certainty, finance, and price-risk tools can unlock first-mover processing capacity?
- How do governments reduce disruption risk when export controls and market shocks are already hitting strategic minerals like antimony?
- What does a credible, high-standard approach to ESG and social license look like in practice—and why does it matter for security?