Trump says the US doesn’t need Canada. But it’s the source of key minerals for the military | Vince Beiser

In late August, as trade negotiations with Canada unraveled, Donald Trump insisted that his nation did not require Canada, while Canada needed the United States. However, Canada remains a vital source of minerals for the United States, providing approximately $47 billion worth of minerals annually. Sixty percent of the aluminum consumed by the United States each year originates from Canada, where abundant, low-cost, low-carbon electricity powers smelting plants.

The United States military relies heavily on aluminum, incorporating it in various components such as shell casings, ship hulls, and aircraft fuselages. The advanced F-35 fighter jet, for instance, is constructed with an aluminum frame comprising about 40% of its overall structure. Trump lamented the dependency on Canadian aluminum, stating that the country "desperately needs aluminum," as it is predominantly sourced from Canada.