BOLSTERING AMERICA’S CRITICAL MINERALS FUTURE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order launching an investigation into the national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivative products.

• The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to initiate a Section 232 investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to evaluate the impact of imports of these materials on America’s security and resilience.
• This investigation will assess vulnerabilities in supply chains, the economic impact of foreign market distortions, and potential trade remedies to ensure a secure and sustainable domestic supply of these essential materials.
• The investigation will culminate in a report detailing risks and providing recommendations to strengthen domestic production, reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, and enhance economic and national security.
• If the Secretary of Commerce submits a report finding that imports of critical-mineral articles threaten to impair national security and the President decides to impose tariffs, any resulting tariff rate imposed under Section 232 would take the place of the current reciprocal tariff rate, pursuant to President Trump’s April 2 order.

COUNTERING THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY: President Trump recognizes that an overreliance on foreign critical minerals and their derivative products could jeopardize U.S. defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation.

• Critical minerals, including rare earth elements, are essential for national security and economic resilience.
  • Processed critical minerals and their derivative products are key building blocks of our defense industrial base and integral to applications such as jet engines, missile guidance systems, advanced computing, radar systems, advanced optics, and secure communications equipment.
• The United States remains heavily dependent on foreign sources, particularly adversarial nations, for these essential materials, exposing the economy and defense sector to supply chain disruptions and economic coercion.
• Foreign producers have engaged in price manipulation, overcapacity, and arbitrary export restrictions, using their supply chain dominance as a tool for geopolitical and economic leverage over the United States.
• A few months ago, China banned exports to the United States of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications.
• Just this week, China suspended exports of six heavy rare earth metals, as well as rare earth magnets, in order to choke off supplies of components central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.

STRENGTHENING AMERICAN INDUSTRY: This Executive Order builds on previous actions taken by the Trump Administration to ensure U.S. trade policy serves the nation’s long-term interests.

• On Day One, President Trump initiated his America First Trade Policy to make America’s economy great again.
• On Liberation Day, President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all countries and individualized reciprocal higher tariffs on nations with which the U.S. has the largest trade deficits in order to level the playing field and protect America’s national security.
  • More than 75 countries have already reached out to discuss new trade deals.
  • As a result, the individualized higher tariffs are currently paused amid these discussions, except for China, which retaliated.
  • China faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions.
    • This includes a 125% reciprocal tariff, a 20% tariff to address the fentanyl crisis, and Section 301 tariffs on specific goods, between 7.5% and 100%.
• President Trump signed proclamations to close existing loopholes and exemptions to restore a true 25% tariff on steel and elevate the tariff to 25% on aluminum.
• President Trump unveiled the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on trade to restore fairness in U.S. trade relationships and counter non-reciprocal trade agreements.
• President Trump signed a memorandum to safeguard American innovation, including the consideration of tariffs to combat digital service taxes (DSTs), fines, practices, and policies that foreign governments levy on American companies.
• President Trump signed similar Executive Orders launching investigations into how imports of copper and imports of timber, lumber, and their derivative products threaten America’s national security and economic stability.