Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has issued an executive order blocking new mining permits and leases near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the north-east of the state, putting him at odds with President Donald Trump's push to expand domestic production of critical minerals. Republicans, including Minnesota congressman Tom Emmer, argue the move undermines US efforts to reduce reliance on China for minerals essential to defence and technology, warning it leaves American supply chains vulnerable at a time of heightened competition with Beijing.

The order, signed on Tuesday, covers a significant area that falls partly under federal jurisdiction, raising questions about whether Walz's authority can override federal mining decisions in the region. Critics frame the dispute as part of a broader clash between the Trump administration's resource and energy agenda and Democratic-led states pursuing environmental protections, with GOP figures suggesting the practical effect will be to hand China a strategic advantage in the minerals race.