ADJUSTING IMPORTS OF PROCESSED CRITICAL MINERALS AND THEIR DERIVATIVE PRODUCTS INTO THE UNITED STATES

This Presidential Proclamation, issued by Donald J. Trump on January 14, 2026, declares that the current level of imports of processed critical minerals and their derivative products (PCMDPs) constitutes a threat to the national security of the United States.The proclamation initiates a "plan of action" under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to reduce foreign reliance and bolster domestic manufacturing.Essentiality: PCMDPs are indispensable to the U.S. defense industrial base (weapons, fighter aircraft, munitions) and all 16 critical infrastructure sectors (energy, communications, and chemicals).Strategic Vulnerability: As of 2024, the U.S. is 100% net-import reliant for 12 critical minerals and at least 50% reliant for 29 others.Processing Gap: Even when the U.S. mines minerals domestically (such as rare earths), it lacks the capacity to process them, forcing the U.S. to export raw materials for refining and then re-import them.Market Instability: Foreign dominance and extreme price volatility have discouraged private investment and led to the closure of domestic facilities, while demand is surging due to AI, data centers, and advanced military needs.President Trump concurred with the Secretary of Commerce’s findings and directed the following:Negotiation of Trade Agreements: The Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) are ordered to immediately pursue or continue negotiations with foreign nations to address this security threat.Trade Restrictive Measures: Negotiators are specifically directed to consider minimum price floors (to combat price volatility) and other trade-restricting measures.180-Day Deadline: The administration will review the status of these negotiations within 180 days. If satisfactory agreements are not reached or prove ineffective, the President reserved the right to take further action, including the imposition of tariffs.Ongoing Monitoring: The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with the continuous monitoring of PCMDP imports and advising the President on any circumstances requiring further executive action.The proclamation frames the lack of domestic critical mineral processing as a major national security weakness that could be exploited by foreign actors. By leveraging Section 232, the Trump Administration aims to use trade negotiations and the threat of tariffs to force a shift toward a secure, resilient, and domestically-centered supply chain for minerals vital to the 21st-century economy and military.Key Findings of the InvestigationThe Mandate for ActionConclusion