U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening new tariffs on Chinese exports of critical minerals—but there’s a catch: China has already banned exports of many of the targeted materials.
On April 15, the White House released a fact sheet announcing tariffs of “up to 245%” in response to Beijing’s export restrictions on key high-tech materials like gallium, germanium, and rare earth elements. These materials are vital for industries such as aerospace, semiconductors, and defense.
The policy hinges on a new investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 into the national security risks posed by foreign control of these supply chains. If the Commerce Department finds that imports of these minerals threaten U.S. security, the President could impose new tariffs—ranging from 7.5% to 100%—on top of existing 145% duties.
