Advertisement
Trump sets 180-day deadline to counter China’s control of critical minerals
US government warns global suppliers to negotiate agreements to secure reliable, diversified supplies for the US or face new trade hurdles
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Khushboo Razdanin Washington
US President Donald Trump has put allies and trade partners on notice, invoking national security powers to ease China’s chokehold on critical minerals, warning global suppliers to negotiate agreements to secure reliable, diversified supplies for the US or face new trade barriers, including tariffs.
In a proclamation signed on Wednesday, the “America first” president declared that the US’ reliance on foreign-processed critical minerals poses a national security threat.
He directed US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to negotiate new or expanded agreements to “adjust imports” of processed critical minerals and their derivative products.
08:58
What are rare earths, and why is China’s dominance facing global pushback
What are rare earths, and why is China’s dominance facing global pushback
Negotiators have exactly 180 days, until July 13, 2026, to secure binding or enforceable agreements.
Advertisement
While the proclamation does not explicitly require countries to prove their minerals are mined and processed outside adversarial nations to avoid tariffs, it emphasises commitments that diversify supply chains away from dominant and potentially coercive sources.
Measures include boosting allied processing capacity, securing offtake agreements for US access, investing in non-Chinese facilities and using trade-stabilising tools such as price floors to counter price swings and volatility.
Advertisement
If no deal is reached within the deadline, the president is authorised to bypass further review and impose “remedial” measures, including high tariffs, quotas or mandatory “minimum import prices”.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x