Trump is Serious About U.S. Critical Minerals Dominance, NioCorp Says

Rhea-AI Summary

NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ:NB) has expressed support for the Trump Administration's reported plan to establish price supports for U.S.-produced rare earth oxides and other critical minerals under the Defense Production Act. CEO Mark A. Smith praised the initiative as a strategic move to counter foreign market manipulation and promote domestic critical minerals production.

The company's Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project, which is fully permitted and awaiting financing to begin construction, plans to produce six critical minerals: Niobium, Scandium, Titanium, and three magnetic rare earth oxides - Neodymium-Praseodymium, Dysprosium, and Terbium.

Positive

• Project is fully permitted and ready for construction pending financing
• Potential to produce six critical minerals essential for U.S. supply chain
• Could benefit from proposed government price support mechanisms

Negative

• Project construction still dependent on securing financing
• Price support policy not yet implemented, remains in proposal stage

Insights

Critical Minerals Policy Expert

NioCorp stands to benefit from reported Trump policy plans supporting U.S. critical minerals production through price supports against Chinese competition.

This press release reveals NioCorp's strategic positioning to capitalize on reported Trump Administration plans to establish price supports for U.S.-produced rare earth oxides and potentially other critical minerals. The policy would leverage the Defense Production Act to counter foreign market manipulation—specifically targeting China's dominance in critical minerals supply chains.

The announcement lacks concrete details about the actual policy implementation, timeline, or specific support levels. Instead, it primarily represents NioCorp's interpretation and enthusiasm about a potential future policy rather than confirmed government action. No official government sources are cited.

NioCorp's Elk Creek Project is strategically aligned with this potential policy shift, as it plans to produce six critical minerals: niobium, scandium, titanium, and three magnetic rare earth oxides (neodymium-praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium). These materials are essential for defense applications, electronics, and clean energy technologies—areas where U.S. dependency on foreign sources creates national security vulnerabilities.

The company states it is fully permitted for construction, with financing as the remaining hurdle. If implemented, price supports would significantly improve the project's economic viability by providing a price floor against cheaper foreign competition. This could make the project more attractive to potential investors and accelerate financing efforts.

The broader implications of such a policy would represent a significant shift in U.S. industrial policy toward more direct government intervention in critical mineral markets—similar to approaches taken in China and other nations that have established mineral resource dominance. For investors in the critical minerals sector, this signals potential reduced market risk through government-backed price stability.

Reports of an Administration Proposal to Set Price Support Levels for US-Made Rare Earth Oxides is Key to Establishing Independence from China on Critical Minerals

CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / August 4, 2025 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB) is praising a reported plan by the Trump Administration to establish price supports for production in the U.S. of rare earth oxides and potentially other minerals deemed critical by the U.S. government.

"President Trump is on track to establish both U.S. energy and critical minerals dominance, and what he is proposing shows that he is willing to go toe-to-toe with foreign nations that manipulate markets and pricing in a manner that discourages U.S. production," said NioCorp Chairman and CEO Mark A. Smith. "Establishing price support levels under the Defense Production Act for critical minerals such as rare earth sends a very powerful signal to industry and financial markets. It says that President Trump is willing to use every available tool under U.S. law to re-assert US leadership in critical minerals mining, processing, and value-added manufacturing."

"The U.S. has enormous critical minerals resources, and President Trump is clearly determined to unlock those resources in order to protect our national defense and economic security," Mr. Smith added. "He also knows that we can produce these minerals while protecting our environment. I am proud that our Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project is one such project, which is why we are fully permitted to move to a construction start immediately after our financing is complete."

NioCorp's Elk Creek Project plans to deliver six critical minerals to the U.S.: Niobium, Scandium, Titanium and three magnetic rare earth oxides: Neodymium-Praseodymium, Dysprosium, and Terbium.

# # #

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jim Sims, Corporate Communications Officer, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (720) 334-7066, jim.sims@niocorp.com

@NioCorp $NB #Niobium #Scandium #rareearth #neodymium #dysprosium #terbium #ElkCreek

ABOUT NIOCORP

NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the prospect of the U.S. establishing price support levels for critical minerals such as rare earth; such policy's potential impact on financial markets; the ability of the U.S. to produce critical minerals while protecting the environment, including minerals planned for production at the Company's Elk Creek Project; acceleration of the Company's efforts to deliver niobium, scandium, and titanium products to market and progress our ongoing work regarding the potential to produce rare earths; the various initiatives that NioCorp plans to pursue as it continues to advance the Elk Creek Project; NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms or at all; the future price of metals; the stability of the financial and capital markets; NioCorp's ability to service future debt, if any, and meet the payment obligations thereunder and current estimates and assumptions regarding the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II (the "Business Combination") and the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement" and, together with the Business Combination, the "Transactions") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP, and their benefits. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the SEC and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's ability to operate as a going concern; NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense or a debt guarantee from UK Export Finance on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Transactions, including NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, or the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms, or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the Transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining industry; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, or development activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE: NioCorp Developments Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What critical minerals will NioCorp's Elk Creek Project produce?

The Elk Creek Project will produce six critical minerals: Niobium, Scandium, Titanium, and three magnetic rare earth oxides (Neodymium-Praseodymium, Dysprosium, and Terbium).

What is the current status of NioCorp's Elk Creek Project?

The project is fully permitted and ready to begin construction immediately after securing necessary financing.

How might Trump's proposed price support policy affect NioCorp (NASDAQ:NB)?

The policy could potentially provide price support guarantees for NioCorp's rare earth oxide production, helping ensure project viability and reducing market manipulation risks.

Where is NioCorp's Elk Creek Project located?

The Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project is located in the United States, positioned to support domestic critical minerals production.

What is the purpose of Trump's proposed critical minerals price support plan?

The plan aims to establish U.S. critical minerals independence from foreign nations, particularly China, by supporting domestic production through price guarantees under the Defense Production Act.