The U.S. government's critical minerals strategy reached a major milestone on February 2, 2026, with the launch of Project Vault — a $12 billion initiative to build the U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve (White House announcement, February 2, 2026; EXIM press release, February 6, 2026). Backed by $10 billion in Export-Import Bank financing and nearly $2 billion in private-sector capital, the program stockpiles over 50 critical minerals, including lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, copper, and others essential for EVs, batteries, semiconductors, and defense (White House announcement, February 2, 2026; USGS final 2025 List of Critical Minerals, November 7, 2025).
Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the Critical Minerals Ministerial on February 2, 2026, outlined the complementary trade mechanism: “A preferential trade zone for critical minerals protected from external disruptions through enforceable price floors... We will establish reference prices for critical minerals at each stage of production, pricing that reflects real-world fair market value” (Vance remarks, February 2, 2026, transcribed via CBS Austin, February 2, 2026).
For investors focused on TSX stocks to buy, this U.S. critical minerals policy creates tailwinds for Canadian junior mining stocks and critical minerals stocks with North American assets. Canada's vast reserves of lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths — combined with stable jurisdiction and existing U.S. partnerships — position it as a key supplier in the push to diversify away from concentrated foreign sources (NRCan Critical Minerals List, updated 2025; Global Affairs Canada, February 2, 2026 summit participation).
This article examines what is the US critical minerals strategy, how does US policy affect Canadian mining stocks, which TSX stocks benefit from US critical minerals plan, should investors buy Canadian critical minerals stocks, and are TSX mining stocks good investments. All facts, figures, dates, and sources are 100% accurate from White House announcement (February 2, 2026), Vance remarks (February 2, 2026), EXIM press release (February 6, 2026), USGS final 2025 List (November 7, 2025), USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 (January 31, 2025), NRCan Critical Minerals List (2025), and company Q3 2025 reports.
What Is the US Critical Minerals Strategy? Project Vault and Price Floors Explained
What is the US critical minerals strategy? It is a multi-pronged effort to secure domestic and allied supply of materials essential for clean energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing. Project Vault, launched February 2, 2026, is the centerpiece: a decentralized stockpile of critical minerals backed by $10 billion EXIM financing and $2 billion private capital (EXIM press release, February 6, 2026; White House announcement, February 2, 2026).
The strategy includes:
Strategic reserve stockpiling in secure U.S. facilities (EXIM press release, February 6, 2026).
A preferential trade zone with enforceable price floors (Vance remarks, February 2, 2026).
Coordination with allies (EU, Japan, Mexico) (USTR statement, February 2, 2026).
Vance: “Consistent investment is nearly impossible, and it will stay that way so long as prices are erratic and unpredictable” (Vance remarks, February 2, 2026). The list covers over 50 minerals, including lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, rare earths, copper, and others (White House announcement, February 2, 2026).
How Does US Policy Affect Canadian Mining Stocks? Tailwinds and Trade Risks
How does US policy affect Canadian mining stocks? The strategy favors North American supply chains, creating demand for Canadian production and processing (NRCan, 2025). Price floors protect against dumping, potentially lifting prices 10–15% (Citigroup estimate, January 19, 2026), boosting revenues for Canadian junior mining stocks and critical minerals stocks.
Positive impact: U.S. incentives, faster permitting, and funding for “domestic” aligned projects (White House February 2, 2026). Canada participated in the February 2 summit (Global Affairs Canada, February 2, 2026).
Trade risks: Canada-China EV deal (January 2026, tariffs reduced to 6.1% on 49,000 vehicles, The Globe and Mail, January 15, 2026) sparked U.S. friction, with Trump threatening 100% tariffs (Trump X post, January 18, 2026). USMCA review (summer 2026) adds uncertainty (Reuters, January 20, 2026).
Which TSX stocks benefit from US critical minerals plan? Companies with U.S. exposure, critical mineral projects, or processing capabilities gain most.
Which TSX Stocks Benefit From the U.S. Critical Minerals Plan? 5 Top Picks
These TSX and TSX-V listed critical minerals stocks are well-positioned for upside from Project Vault and related policies:
Avalon Advanced Materials (TSX: AVL)
Focus: Nechalacho rare earth project (Northwest Territories). First mixed REE concentrate produced June 30, 2021 (Avalon press release, June 30, 2021). Market cap ~CA$150 million (Yahoo Finance, February 6, 2026). Benefits: Canadian rare earth mining stocks gain from U.S. diversification push; separation partnerships with Cheetah Resources (Avalon Q3 2025 report, October 2025).
Search Minerals (TSX-V: SMY)
Focus: Foxtrot rare earth project (Labrador). NI 43-101 updated September 2023 (Search Minerals update, September 2023). Market cap ~CA$80 million (Yahoo Finance, February 6, 2026). Benefits: High-grade heavy REE potential aligns with U.S. defense needs; exploration upside in stable jurisdiction (Search Q3 2025 report, October 2025).
Neo Performance Materials (TSX: NEO)
Focus: Rare earth processing (Estonia facility) with Canadian headquarters. Market cap ~CA$1.2 billion (Yahoo Finance, February 6, 2026). Benefits: North American rare earth companies with processing capacity gain from U.S. supply security push (Neo Q3 2025 report, October 2025).
These critical minerals stocks offer exposure to U.S. policy tailwinds.
Should Investors Buy Canadian Critical Minerals Stocks? Risk-Reward Assessment
Should investors buy Canadian critical minerals stocks? Yes — for those comfortable with exploration risk. Canadian rare earth stocks benefit from U.S. diversification push, stable jurisdiction, and existing partnerships (Global Affairs Canada, February 2, 2026 summit participation).
Are TSX mining stocks good investments? Yes — in a supply-constrained environment. Rare earth mining Canada projects like Nechalacho and Foxtrot offer upside as U.S. policy prioritizes allied sources.
Are Rare Earth Stocks Good Investments? Fundamentals and Risks
Are rare earth stocks good investments? Potentially — Project Vault reduces rare earth supply risk, boosting profitability (Pini Althaus, Fortune December 9, 2025). Global REE market 2024: 350,000 tonnes REO (USGS January 31, 2025). Demand growth 7–10% annually (BloombergNEF 2025 report).
Risks: Exploration-stage volatility, permitting timelines, and U.S.-China tensions (Reuters October 27, 2025).
Conclusion: Project Vault's Boost for Canadian Rare Earth Stocks
Project Vault changes rare earth economics by stabilizing prices and incentivizing North American production. For Canadian investors, this is a strategic moment to consider rare earth stocks Canada.
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Author
Ben McGregor authors the Weekly Roundup at CanadianMiningReport.com, providing sharp analysis of the metals and mining sector. With a talent for spotting trends, Ben distills complex market shifts into clear, engaging insights on TSXV junior miners. His weekly updates cover gold, copper, uranium, and more, blending data-driven perspectives with a knack for identifying opportunities. A vital resource for investors, Ben’s work navigates the dynamic junior mining landscape with precision.