Trump Rules Out Critical Mineral Tariffs, Prioritizing Global Supply Deals

Washington, Thursday, 15 January 2026.
On January 14, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order deferring tariffs on critical minerals like lithium and rare earths, opting instead to secure supply chains through international partnerships. This decision offers immediate relief to the technology and electric vehicle sectors, which faced potential cost spikes from trade barriers. The administration’s strategy now pivots to negotiating agreements with allied nations, potentially utilizing price floors to combat volatility, a topic recently addressed by G7 finance ministers. This move follows a Section 232 investigation that identified heavy reliance on foreign processing—specifically China’s control over 80% of rare earths—as a national security vulnerability. While tariffs are off the table for now, the administration retains the option to intervene if diplomatic efforts fail to bolster domestic inventory and reduce dependence on adversarial sources.