House Ways and Means Hearing Examines U.S. Dependence on China for Critical Minerals
The House Ways and Means Committee convened a hearing on September 4, 2026, focused on securing American access to critical resources through strategic international partnerships — a session that came directly on the heels of a congressional delegation trip to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Reporting from waysandmeans.house.gov outlined five key moments from the proceeding, which centered on the United States’ significant vulnerability to Chinese dominance over the global supply of critical minerals.
The China Problem in Plain Numbers
The hearing opened against a stark backdrop: China is the leading producer of at least 30 of the 60 minerals the United States has officially designated as critical to national and economic security. More alarming still, Beijing controls roughly 90 percent of global rare earth processing capacity — meaning that even minerals extracted elsewhere in the world often pass through Chinese facilities before reaching manufacturers. Witnesses made clear that this concentration of control is not merely an economic concern but a strategic one. As one expert testified, “Whoever controls the raw materials is going to control the future of strategic technology.”
The Delegation’s Groundwork in Central Asia
Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) led a congressional delegation to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia the week before the hearing. Those three nations sit within Central Asia’s resource-rich corridor and represent potential partners for diversifying American supply chains away from Chinese dependence. The delegation’s firsthand engagement set the tone for the hearing’s broader argument: that building resilient supply chains requires active diplomatic presence, not just policy declarations from Washington.
Africa as a Long-Term Strategic Partner
Witnesses pointed to Africa as a critical piece of the supply chain diversification puzzle. The continent’s scale is difficult to overstate — a population of one billion people, with projections showing that figure eventually surpassing the combined populations of China and India. Africa’s middle class already numbers around 400 million, and approximately 700 million cell phones are in use across the continent. These figures were presented not merely as demographic curiosities but as indicators of a growing consumer and industrial base with which the United States has strong incentive to build lasting economic ties.
AGOA Extension and the Importance of Showing Up
Congress passed, and President Trump signed, an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act through 2028. The law, which provides preferential trade access for qualifying African nations, was described by witnesses as a foundational tool for deepening U.S.-Africa economic relationships. Witness Daniel F. Runde argued the extension should go further, calling for a full ten-year commitment. His reasoning was direct: “Part of life is showing up, and so having a 10-year AGOA extension is about showing up in Africa.” The current extension expires in 2028, leaving a relatively narrow window before the question of renewal returns to Congress.
Disruption Risks Beyond China
The hearing did not treat Chinese policy as the only threat to American resource access. Witnesses identified armed conflicts in mineral-rich regions and illicit trade networks as additional vectors of supply chain disruption. The combination of geopolitical instability, criminal activity, and deliberate foreign policy decisions by Beijing creates a layered risk environment that no single trade agreement or diplomatic relationship can fully resolve. The committee’s focus on building multiple trade corridors — across both Africa and Central Asia — reflects a recognition that supply chain resilience requires geographic diversification, not just a single alternative to Chinese sourcing.
What This Means for U.S. Policy
The September 4 hearing reflects a broader Republican-led effort to treat critical mineral supply chains as a national security priority, not just a trade policy matter. The Ways and Means Committee’s engagement — combining overseas delegation travel with formal testimony — signals that this issue is moving from background concern to active legislative focus. With AGOA set to expire in 2028 and China’s processing dominance showing no signs of diminishing, the pressure to forge durable partnerships in Africa and Central Asia will only intensify. The committee’s work positions Congress to act on both the trade and security dimensions of a challenge that touches everything from consumer electronics to defense manufacturing.
Source: House Ways and Means Committee. Retrieved from waysandmeans.house.gov.