US Stockpile to Cover Copper and Niche Metals, Friedland Says

Copper will be part of a $12 billion critical minerals stockpile, although the initial rollout will have a far bigger impact on niche metals used in defense and technology, according to mining billionaire Robert Friedland.

Friedland, who participated this week in the launch of the Trump administration’s Project Vault program, said in a Wednesday interview that rather than central planning for government or military use, a decentralized approach will help American manufacturers secure the strategic metals they need.

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That would include widely used copper, which is ...