Jan 2026 Section 232 Executive Order on Processed Critical Minerals

[Deven]

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

January 14, 2026
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...r-derivative-products-into-the-united-states/

Highlights:

• "The Secretary of Commerce ... found and advised me of his opinion that processed critical minerals and their derivative products (PCMDPs) are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States."
• "The United States is too reliant on foreign sources of PCMDPs, lacks access to a sufficiently secure and reliable supply chain to PCMDPs, is experiencing unsustainable price volatility with respect to critical mineral markets, and is suffering from weakened domestic manufacturing and production capacity of PCMDPs."
• "These circumstances are a significant national security vulnerability that could be exploited by foreign actors; weaken the industrial resilience of the United States; expose the American people to supply chain disruptions, economic instability, and strategic vulnerabilities; and jeopardize the United States’ ability to meet demands for PCMDPs that are essential to its national defense and critical infrastructure."
• "The United States must, among other things, ensure that it has a secure supply chain to obtain PCMDPs and that it has sufficient domestic mining and processing of critical minerals to reduce import reliance on foreign countries." ... "The Secretary recommended a range of actions, including actions to adjust the imports of PCMDPs so that such imports will not threaten to impair the national security."
• "The Secretary and the Trade Representative, and any other senior executive branch officials they deem appropriate, shall jointly pursue negotiation of agreements, ... to address the threatened impairment of the national security with respect to imports of PCMDPs from any country. In negotiating, the Secretary and the Trade Representative should consider price floors for trade in critical minerals and other trade-restricting measures."

 

[Fundamental]

The key word being 'Processed' if that includes RE's downstream of separated Oxides, he is shooting America in the foot. At this stage the US does not have and possibly never will, have the capacity to produce sufficient RE's to fuel its Industries without imports.