CHEYENNE, Wyo. — President Donald Trump is taking a step toward granting the U.S. mining industry’s biggest wishes by singling out one metal as a focus of his domestic minerals policy: copper.

An executive order mandates a review of the threats posed by over-reliance on foreign copper, and recommendations for increasing domestic supply.

The United States has launched an investigation into copper imports, aiming to assess potential national security risks and strengthen domestic production. Facing growing reliance on foreign metals, the government is seeking to safeguard critical resources as global market shifts and external influences threaten economic sovereignty.