United States President Donald Trump is invoking emergency powers to boost the ability of the U.S. to produce critical minerals — and potentially coal — as part of a broad effort to ramp up the development of domestic natural resources and make the country less reliant on foreign imports.

An executive order signed by the president Thursday taps the Defense Production Act as part of an effort to provide financing, loans and other investment support to domestically process critical minerals and rare earth elements, according to a White House official. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, working with the Department of Defense, will provide financing for new mineral production projects.

The order, which also encourages faster permitting for mining and processing projects and a directive for the Interior Department to prioritize mineral production on federal land, comes as a direct response to long-held concerns among the U.S. and allies that China overwhelmingly controls the processing of some of the most important critical minerals.

These elements are used in a number of products from batteries to defence systems that are seen as crucial to the nation's energy and security.

Despite possessing some critical minerals, the U.S. currently imports a significant amount, creating economic and security risks, according to the White House. The administration said the U.S. is import-reliant on at least 15 critical minerals and that 70 per cent of imports of rare earths come from China.

The Trump administration will also coordinate with the private sector to ensure a stable and resilient domestic supply chain for critical minerals, which under the executive order includes uranium, copper, potash, gold, as well as any other element, compound, or material as determined by the chair of the National Energy Dominance Council, the White House official said. That designation could also cover coal, the official added.

Government support offers to help boost domestic production to satisfy the needs of the Defense Department and private industry amid growing concerns about shortages. China is beginning to implement export controls on materials such as germanium, gallium and antimony.

The Defense Production Act is a 1950s law that former President Harry Truman enlisted to ramp up steel production for the Korean War. Former U.S. president Joe Biden similarly invoked the law to encourage domestic production of critical minerals, adding battery materials such as lithium, nickel, graphite, cobalt and manganese to the list of items covered under the measure to help companies access US$750 million in funds. He also used the law to support American production of electric heat pumps.

Trump used the law in his first term to spur mask production during the coronavirus pandemic.