Rep. John Moolenaar’s inquiry into a Canadian firm’s tungsten supply underscores growing U.S. concerns over reliance on China for critical defense materials.
At a Glance
- Rep. John Moolenaar contacted Almonty Industries regarding tungsten supply
- The U.S. heavily depends on China for tungsten, vital to defense technology
- Almonty operates the Sangdong tungsten mine in South Korea
- The House Select Committee on the CCP aims to reduce reliance on Chinese minerals
- Moolenaar emphasizes the national security risks of this dependency
Strategic Pivot
In a direct challenge to China’s dominance in critical minerals, Rep. John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has initiated contact with Almonty Industries, a Canadian firm operating one of the world’s few non-Chinese tungsten mines. The inquiry signals Washington’s intent to fortify its supply chain for a metal essential to military and industrial applications.
Tungsten, valued for its density and heat resistance, is a core component in defense technologies ranging from armor-piercing ammunition to rocket engine nozzles. Yet over 90 percent of global tungsten processing occurs in China, creating a strategic chokehold. Moolenaar’s outreach to Almonty, which runs the Sangdong mine in South Korea, underscores bipartisan concern over this dependency and the desire to secure more stable, allied sources.
Watch a report: House CCP Committee Chairman Inquires With Canadian Firm About Supply of Critical Metal.
Risk and Opportunity
Moolenaar’s letter to Almonty explicitly requested insights into the company’s production capacity and timeline, reflecting urgent U.S. interest in sourcing tungsten from outside China. The Sangdong mine, expected to produce 5–10 percent of the global tungsten supply when fully operational, could become a key node in a non-Chinese supply chain.
This outreach follows broader legislative moves to de-risk American supply lines. Earlier this year, the House Select Committee released a report recommending expansion of domestic and allied sourcing for rare earths and critical minerals. Parallel efforts include federal support for U.S.-based mining and incentives for foreign partners. The committee’s concerns are supported by defense experts who warn that a sudden disruption in tungsten supply could delay or derail key weapons systems.
Almonty’s CEO, Lewis Black, has previously emphasized the company’s role as a reliable alternative to China, noting its existing relationships with governments and firms seeking secure materials. The U.S. Department of Defense has already signaled interest in supporting allied critical mineral production, and Sangdong’s strategic location within a close U.S. ally makes it a compelling candidate for future cooperation.
This latest congressional move reflects a broader geopolitical trend: the reshoring and allied-shoring of supply chains vital to national security. By preemptively building new relationships, lawmakers like Moolenaar aim to blunt China’s leverage before a crisis emerges. Whether these efforts can scale quickly enough remains to be seen—but the message is clear: the era of single-source dependency is coming to an end.
