Pakistan has officially launched its $500 million partnership with the United States, sending its first shipment of enriched rare earth elements and critical minerals to US Strategic Metals (USSM), a company based in Missouri. The delivery arrived on Thursday, marking a major step in strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
In September 2025, Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with USSM to build a poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan. The aim of this collaboration is to boost the supply of critical minerals to the U.S., a step both countries see as an opportunity to deepen trade and cooperation.
USSM’s CEO Stacy W. Hastie said this shipment is the first of many, which will help provide the U.S. with key minerals essential for its national interests. The initial batch included antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium—materials used in making electronics, defense equipment, and renewable energy technologies.
The partnership comes at a time when the U.S. is trying to reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals. In August 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior added copper and silver to its list of critical minerals, highlighting their importance for national security and economic stability.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced plans to invest nearly $1 billion in the mining, processing, and manufacturing of critical materials as part of President Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy” initiative. The program aims to build strong domestic supply chains for the energy, defense, and industrial sectors.
For Pakistan, this deal is a chance to gain a stronger position in the global minerals market and attract foreign investment in its energy and resource sectors. For the United States, it’s a strategic move to secure vital materials needed for its technology and energy industries.
Together, this partnership could reshape the global critical minerals trade—giving both nations a competitive edge in a rapidly changing world economy.
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