Trump Initiates Investigation on Necessity of Tariffs on Key Mineral Products

Trump has launched an investigation into the necessity of imposing tariffs on key mineral products, marking the latest move in an expanding trade war targeting crucial global economic sectors. According to a White House briefing, the order signed by Trump on Tuesday requires the Secretary of Commerce to initiate a Section 232 investigation under the 1962 Trade Expansion Act to "assess the impact of imports of these materials on U.S. security and resilience." If the Secretary of Commerce finds that imports of key mineral products threaten "national security and the President decides to impose tariffs," these tariffs would replace the so-called reciprocal tariffs announced earlier this month on U.S. trade partners by Trump. The order involves key minerals, including rare earth elements, which are considered "cornerstones of the U.S. defense industrial base," and are essential for manufacturing jet engines, missile guidance systems, advanced computers, as well as radar, optical, and communication equipment. The order also covers uranium, processed key minerals, and derivative products. According to the law, the Secretary of Commerce must submit the investigative results within 270 days. The White House stated that although the U.S. possesses some important minerals, it still heavily relies on imports, creating economic and security risks. The U.S. government claims that the country relies on imports for at least 15 key minerals. These critical minerals are used in defense, automotive, space travel, batteries, and other equipment, but much of the U.S. supply is dependent on other countries.