Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Directs Negotiations to Adjust Imports of Processed Critical Minerals and Their Derivative Products into the United States

Whitehouse.gov ^ | January 14, 2026 | The Whitehouse

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SUPPORTING AMERICAN INDUSTRY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Proclamation pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Act) ordering the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to jointly negotiate agreements with trading partners to address the threatened impairment of national security with respect to imports of processed critical minerals and their derivative products (PCMDPs) from any country.

• In negotiating, the Administration will, working with our allies, promote the adoption of price floors for trade in PCMDPs.

• The Secretary of Commerce will inform the President of any circumstances that might indicate the need for further action under Section 232 with respect to PCMDPs.

• The President may also take other actions he deems necessary to adjust imports of PCMDPs and eliminate the related threats to national security, including if the agreements directed to be negotiated are not entered into within 180 days of the proclamation, are not being carried out, or are ineffective.

ADDRESSING THE THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY: President Trump recognizes that PCMDPs are indispensable to almost every industry, including national defense programs and critical infrastructure, and recognizes the need to create diverse and more resilient supply chains to counterbalance the influence of non-market practices by foreign actors.

• This action follows the Secretary of Commerce’s completion of a Section 232 investigation, which found that the present quantities and circumstances of the imports of processed critical minerals and their derivative products threaten to impair national security.

• Despite increasing demand, critical mineral production in the United States has been declining.

• Weakened domestic production and a lack of access to secure and reliable supply chains for critical minerals affect the production of advanced weapons systems, energy infrastructure, and everyday consumer goods while making America vulnerable to exploitation by foreign actors.

• It is vital that the United States have sufficient domestic mining and processing of critical minerals to reduce import reliance on foreign countries.

BUILDING ON A RECORD OF SECURING CRITICAL INDUSTRIES: President Trump has long recognized that America’s national security and economic strength depend on securing reliable supplies of critical minerals.

• In April, President Trump signed the Executive Order that launched this investigation into the national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivative products.

• President Trump has also worked tirelessly to restore American dominance in critical minerals and resources, including by:
  • Unleashing America’s offshore critical minerals and resources.
  • Increasing efficiency for federally funded critical mineral projects.
  • Approving the Ambler Road Project to enable access to large deposits of critical minerals located in a currently-inaccessible area of Alaska.

• While prioritizing domestic production, today’s action will also build upon the landmark critical minerals agreements President Trump has secured with key allies and partners, including Australia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and others, to diversify global supply chains and reduce dependence on adversarial nations.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: trump

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