Erik Wetterling – New Trump Executive Order Focused On Sourcing Domestic Critical Minerals Makes The US More Attractive As A Jurisdiction
Erik Wetterling, Founder and Editor of The Hedgeless Horseman website, joins me to dig into the implications and potential benefits to the US as a mining jurisdiction on the back of the new executive order from Trump issued on March 20th; titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.”
This executive order https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/immediate-measures-to-increase-american-mineral-production/ will utilize the Defense Production Act (DPA) to focus on sourcing more domestically mined, processed, or refined critical minerals and strategic mineral as a matter of national security. There appears to be a joint effort between the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Department of Defense to provide investment support, loans, and possibly grant for mining projects. There is also an expedited priority on reviewing the permitting on projects seeking development from usual suspect metals like nickel and rare earths but also including gold, uranium, and aluminum.
Erik reviews a number of companies that have his attention in the US that may benefit including juniors like Integra Resources(TSXV: ITR) (NYSE American: ITRG), Stillwater Critical Minerals(TSX.V:PGE)(OTCQB:PGEZF), BCM Resources Corp (TSXV: B), and K2 Gold (TSX-V: KTO) (OTCQB: KTGDF). We also note the potential impact on long-stalled mega projects like Northern Dynasty’s Pebble, Trilogy’s Rambler road access to the Upper Kobuk mineral project, or Rio Tinto’s Resolution Mine in Arizona. We also discuss whether US projects will now get a premium, due to removing permitting bottlenecks or possibly providing government money to assist in the development of mineral projects.
*In full disclosure, many of the companies mentioned by Erik in this interview, are positions held in his personal portfolio, and they also may be site sponsors of The Hedgeless Horseman website at the time of this recording.
