America looks to secure its tungsten supply chain from a Canadian mining company as China’s grip on this critical defense metal sparks national security concerns.
At a Glance
- Rep. John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has reached out to Canadian mining company Almonty Industries about tungsten supply
- Tungsten is critical for U.S. defense technology, including munitions, missile parts, and aerospace applications
- America’s heavy reliance on China for tungsten poses significant risks to national security and defense readiness
- The focus is on Almonty’s Sangdong tungsten mine in South Korea as a potential alternative supply source
- This initiative represents growing efforts to reduce U.S. dependency on China for critical minerals
National Security Concerns Drive Search for New Tungsten Sources
The United States is taking concrete steps to address its dangerous dependence on China for tungsten, a metal critical to America’s defense capabilities. Rep. John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has formally reached out to Canada-based Almonty Industries regarding potential tungsten supply from their operations. This move comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen America’s supply chains for strategic materials and reduce vulnerability to foreign supply disruptions, particularly from geopolitical rivals.
Tungsten’s unique properties make it irreplaceable in many military applications. With the highest melting point of any metal and exceptional hardness, it serves as a crucial component in armor-piercing munitions, missile components, and various aerospace applications. The metal also plays vital roles in semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicle battery production, industries the United States considers essential to its technological leadership and economic security.
South Korean Mine Offers Strategic Alternative
On June 2, Chairman Moolenaar announced he had sent a letter to Lewis Black, chairman of Almonty Industries, specifically inquiring about the company’s Sangdong tungsten mine in South Korea. This mine represents a strategic alternative to Chinese-controlled tungsten sources. South Korea, as a steadfast U.S. ally, provides a politically stable environment for resource extraction compared to the uncertainties associated with Chinese supply chains, which can be subject to political pressures and export restrictions.
The Sangdong mine is historically significant as one of the largest tungsten mines outside of China. Its development aligns with U.S. interests in diversifying critical mineral supply chains away from potential adversaries. The fact that this initiative comes from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party underscores the geopolitical dimensions of resource security and the growing recognition that economic security and national security are deeply intertwined.
“Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) has sent a letter to Canada-based mining company Almonty Industries to inquire about a critical metal essential for U.S. defense technology that the United States relies on China to obtain.”, said Rep. John Moolenaar.
China’s Tungsten Dominance Threatens American Security
China currently dominates global tungsten production and processing, controlling approximately 80% of the world’s supply. This market concentration gives Beijing significant leverage over industries dependent on the metal, including defense contractors that supply the U.S. military. Rep. Moolenaar has explicitly stated that this dependence “poses a significant risk” to both America’s industrial base and its warfighting readiness, highlighting the strategic vulnerability created by relying on a geopolitical competitor for critical defense inputs.
“Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), announced on June 2 that he had sent a letter to Almonty’s chairman, Lewis Black, over the company’s Sangdong tungsten mine in South Korea.”, added Rep. Moolenaar.
The outreach to Almonty Industries represents one component of a broader U.S. strategy to secure supply chains for critical minerals. Recent legislation, including provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, has allocated billions toward developing domestic and allied sources of strategic materials. These efforts highlight growing bipartisan recognition that America’s industrial and military preparedness requires secure access to critical minerals like tungsten, free from potential manipulation by adversarial nations.
