Trump orders tariff probe on all US critical mineral imports
President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into the possibility of imposing new tariffs on all imports of critical minerals to the United States, marking a significant escalation in trade tensions and a direct challenge to China, the dominant player in this sector. The order directs Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to initiate a national security investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the same law Trump previously used to impose tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper imports.
The investigation will assess market conditions for all essential minerals, including cobalt, nickel, uranium, and the 17 rare earth elements, which are vital for U.S. defense, energy, and technology sectors. The U.S. currently has limited domestic production and processing capacity for many of these minerals, relying heavily on imports, especially from China, which has recently imposed export restrictions on rare earth elements in response to U.S. tariffs.
Trump’s directive emphasizes that this dependence on foreign sources poses risks to national security, defense readiness, price stability, and economic resilience. The probe could lead to tariffs aimed at reducing U.S. reliance on foreign critical minerals and strengthening domestic supply chains. This move follows previous actions by the Trump administration to boost domestic critical mineral production, including invoking the Defense Production Act to support the sector.
The investigation reflects growing concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities and aims to protect U.S. national security and economic interests by potentially imposing tariffs on critical mineral imports, primarily targeting China’s dominance in this market.
