US floats idea of launching critical minerals tariff probe
The US government is reportedly floating the idea of launching a tariff investigation into critical minerals imports, similar to what it has already done with copper.
Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that US President Donald Trump may be looking to carry out a critical minerals tariff probe, citing an unnamed White House official.
However, at this stage, it remains unclear when or if such an investigation will take place, and whether it will fall under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act like copper did, the official told Bloomberg.
A fact sheet accompanying Trump’s latest flurry of tariffs stated that these import duties would not apply to “certain minerals that are not available in the United States”, as well as “all articles that may become subject to future Section 232 tariffs.”
The US Geological Survey currently lists 50 different minerals that it considers to be critical to the US economy and national security; many of these minerals have no domestic production and are 100% reliant on imports.
The potential for such an action — referring to the US President’s ability to adjust imports under Section 232 — is why these minerals were excluded from Trump’s latest tariffs, the official said.
Last month, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at immediately addressing America’s critical minerals production needs by invoking the Defense Production Act to expand leasing and development on federal lands.
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26 Comments
Herman monster
Tariffs are good for the United States, other countries are takeing advantage of us.its time to do something about it
Michael R Tiller
Tell me you know nothing about tariffs without telling me….. follow blindly.
Jim
He’s making global free trade whether anyone wants it or not. You have no idea what you’re talking about.
Brent DeBlois
Your spelling tells me you are not qualified as a person who should make comments about tariffs or anything else really
Pete Meszaros
You have no idea how tariffs work.
Sit back and watch what it does to your economy🙄
Nancy e Adams
A tariff is paid by the US purchaser to the US govt. It is a TAX that the US purchaser of imported goods pays. The ony one taking advantage of the US purchaser is the US govt and Trump is behind it. He’s tryimg to ruin our Nation by increasing the size of the lower income segment of our population and growing the wealth of those in top 1% and the very wealthy. Just like Putin & the Communist Party have done to Russia. Just look at our grocery store shelves today. Looks just like videos of Russian food shortages on the 1990’s. Take a good look & think back to 1990’s Russia. We’re headed that way now. Thanks be to Comrade Trump.
Pete
Ah, the age-old trade-off: tariffs might ‘protect’ U.S. mining, but they risk burning bridges with allies we need most in the green energy race. Short-term gain, long-term pain? 🤷♂️⚡
Kelvin
Of course, it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that the suppliers of these critical minerals may decide, in response, to impose export tariffs. These costs would then be passed onto the USA regardless, by increasing the price. It is also possible that suppliers may decide not to supply to the USA but find other markets instead.
Michael Sims
The latter most likely to occur. Since the US production of rare minerals is so low, it comes up as zero. The most likely scenario will be what China has just done. Stopped all exports of rare minerals to the US. Canada should follow suit, and do the same thing.
Cousin It
What we want. Americans to buy American. The world to buy American. But Americans shouldn’t buy from outside America. Bring on tariffs. Stop buying our stuff. We don’t want your stuff. Who likes coffee anyway?
M Dobrivic
Coffee? Africa possesses a significant share of global mineral reserves – including 92% of platinum, 56% of cobalt, 54% of manganese and 36% of chromium, 30% of mineral reserves. South Africa alone accounted for 43.9% of the world’s chromium production in 2022. Between 2016-2020 South Africa accounted for over 70% of global platinum production and over 80% of global iridium production. Gold exports were more than $40 billion in 2023. Diamonds of $6.5 billion were exported from Africa. Then there is the coffee, fruit, textiles etc. South Africa is the world’s 2nd biggest citrus exporter, the world’s 3rd biggest pecan exporter etc. I would say that Africa is not the stereotype dusty piece of useless land that the ignorant world wants to believe in.
Forrest B Koehler
I think our president is mentally unsound
FRANK RICHARD Cottis
Nto see a factual comment
Mystery
Why couldn’t other countries charge more for minerals including the Tarif so they are not loosing
Mkr
The exporting countries don’t pay the tariff that we impose on the products they send to the US. The importer pays the tariff, and subsequently has to sell the item for a higher price, so we the consumer essentially pay the tariffs. . This reduces the demand on the import because it is more expensive. To be absolutely clear, when another country charges a tariff on US goods, the US does not pay it, the importing country does.
Warwick Carter
Tarris are like putting your own balls in a vice,and starting to squeeze. It’s not pleasant for others in the room, but we’re not the ones in control.
Jlo
Trump is completely unhinged and knows nothing about economics
The US market is crashing, in two weeks you will enter a recession and within a month the USA will start to experience the beginning of a Great Depression just like the 1930s all due to the dumbest choices of one lunatic
Good luck America
Glad to be Canadian
JLo
The first and Second World War started with one country against the world both times they lost
The US will too
I feel for sure good American people
You are being lead by a tyrant that only cares about the rich and eventually will bankrupt your country
Frank
I am hoping my country hits them with everything possible to destabilize the USA
Sandor
I agree with those that say America is in quite obvious decline. Just a suggestion; add a new amendment to the United States Constitution where Congress can pass a bill declaring a sitting President mentally unsound to run a country, and so remove him from office. It would clearly save a lot of trouble.
James Balchin
Trump is in the the process of turning the U. S. into a pariah. Heis iff his rocker. Free trade has always led to more prosperity and better relations for everybody involved.
Karl Rommelmann
All cuontries affected from Trumps trade restrictions should stop exporting to the USA and look for ather word trading partners.I would then like to see what the senat has to say about Trump
David Kelly
Yeah,good idea
ProPete
Those concerned that merchandise trade deficits “rip off” the country with the deficit have it ass backwards. Individuals in the country running the so- called deficit receive actual physical goods, say BMWs from Germany or diamonds from Lesotho. The countries supplying them receive a promissory note that may or may not be worth something in the future. History is replete with cases where currencies collapsed or the “borrower” refused to pay after taking possession of the good- think of the tradesmen that worked on Trump Casinos.
Robert Denton
Trump admits here, that he uses tariffs for restraint of trade by saying he wouldn’t tax minerals if we need them, but have any.
John doyle
The world should boycott all American goods and not sell any rare minerals. Boycott the yanks just like Putin because Trump and Putin are in the same bed. It’s time to teach both a lesson