全线暴跌！美国国防部，突爆大消息！

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Department of Defense has canceled a cobalt procurement tender, highlighting challenges faced by the Trump administration in strengthening domestic supply of critical metals [2][3]. Group 1: Procurement Cancellation - The Department of Defense (DLA) planned to procure up to 7,500 tons of alloy-grade cobalt over five years, with a maximum budget of $500 million [3][4]. - This was the first attempt to procure cobalt since the 1990s, following significant budget cuts that led to the sale of large cobalt inventories [3][4]. - The tender was initially announced in mid-August, with multiple extensions of the bidding deadline, ultimately leading to its cancellation due to unresolved issues [3][4]. Group 2: Market Impact - Following the cancellation, U.S. stock prices for rare earth and lithium-related companies plummeted, with Lithium Americas dropping over 21% and USA Rare Earth falling over 15% [2][6]. - The decline continued into the following trading day, with United States Antimony down over 10% and Lithium Americas down over 8% [6]. - Prior to the cancellation, these stocks had seen significant gains, with Critical Metals up over 207% year-to-date and Lithium Americas up over 128% [6]. Group 3: Supply Chain Concerns - The cancellation reflects broader geopolitical challenges, as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which produces about 75% of the world's cobalt, has implemented export controls, leading to rising cobalt prices [4][5]. - The U.S. government's efforts to secure critical minerals are seen as essential for national defense and high-tech capabilities [7][8]. - The Trump administration's "big and beautiful" plan includes $7.5 billion for critical minerals, with $2 billion allocated for strengthening national defense strategic reserves [7].