Trump is considering imposing fees on basic metal imports to pressure China economy

US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation of whether there is a need to impose new customs duties on all US imports of basic minerals, in a great escalation of its displacement with its global trading partners and an attempt to pressure China the pioneer of that industry.

Trump signed an order that the Minister of Trade Houard Lootnick directs a review of national security under Article 232 of the 1962 trade expansion law, and this is the same law that Trump used in his first term to impose 25% international customs duties on steel and aluminum, which he used last February to start an investigation in possible copper fees.

Trump said that the United States’ dependence on mineral imports “increases the risk of national security, defense readiness, price stability, economic prosperity and flexibility.”

It is required that within 180 days a report to the president, including the need to impose customs duties.

Weaknesses

It is stated that the review will bring the US weaknesses in treating all critical minerals, including cobalt, nickel, and rare rare ground minerals, in addition to uranium, and how foreign actors can distort markets, and what steps can be taken to enhance the local offer and recycle.

This is the latest step in Trump’s efforts to stimulate and treat mineral production in the United States.

This month, Beijing imposed restrictions on the export of rare metals in response to Trump’s fees, a step that has exacerbated Trump officials’ fears of supplies.

Rare minerals are a range of 17 elements used in defense, electric cars, energy and electronics industries, and the United States has only one mine of rare minerals.

The volume of the rare global terrestrial elements market was $ 12.4 billion in 2024, and the market is expected to reach 37.1 billion dollars by 2033, with an annual growth rate of 12.8% during the period from 2025-2033, according to the IMARC group.

The 10 largest countries producing rare minerals in the world in 2024:

The 10 largest countries producing rare minerals in the world came in 2024, according to the American Geological Survey as follows:

1. China: 270 thousand metric tons.
2. US45 thousand metric tons.
3. Burma: 31 thousand metric tons.
4. Australia: 13 thousand metric tons.
5. Nigeria: 13 thousand metric tons.
6. Thailand: 13 thousand metric tons.
7. India: 2900 metric tons.
8. Russia: 2500 metric tons.
9. Vietnam: 300 metric tons.
10. Malaysia: 130 metric tons.

The 10 largest countries in rare minerals in the world:

1. China44 million tons.
2. Brazil: 21 million tons.
3. India: 6.9 million tons.
4. Australia: 5.7 million tons.
5. Russia: 3.8 million tons.
6. Vietnam: 3.5 million tons.
7. US: 1.9 million tons.
8. Greenland: 1.5 million tons.
9. Tanzania: 890 thousand tons.
10. South Africa: 860 thousand tons.