VINACHEM

Starting today, key minerals including gold, graphite, tungsten and uranium are officially exempt from US global tariffs under an executive order signed late on Friday by President Donald Trump.

These minerals — with the exclusion of gold bullion — are all considered critical for sectors including nuclear energy, aerospace and advanced manufacturing, and are not produced in sufficient quantities in the US.

Also covered by exemptions are critical materials used in aerospace, electronics, medical devices and some pharmaceuticals.

The order also imposed new levies on certain silicone products, resin and aluminum hydroxide, while streamlining the process for future tariff exemptions tied to trade agreements.

Under the new framework, the US Trade Representative and the Commerce Department can now make adjustments to tariffs embedded in agreements with key trade partners such as the European Union, Japan and South Korea.

These changes reflect ongoing efforts by the US government to address trade imbalances and strengthen domestic manufacturing while ensuring access to strategic resources, in particular those that cannot be grown, mined or manufactured domestically, a White House statement said.

Fragile supply chain

The United States has not mined tungsten domestically since 2015, and more than 80% of the global supply comes from China. Uranium and natural graphite are likewise heavily import-dependent, with limited or no domestic output.

“When you picture an American jet fighter on a critical mission or the latest electric vehicle rolling off a factory line, you may not realize that several of the key materials driving these technologies, including tungsten, come from halfway across the world,” said Brodie Sutherland, CEO of Patriot Critical Minerals Corp in a recent article.

“Although tungsten is a critical mineral prized for its unmatched density, high melting point and hardness, the US has gone more than ten years without producing a single ounce domestically, relying instead on foreign suppliers to fuel innovation.”

Lewis Black, founder and CEO of Almonty Industries, the largest tungsten mining and processing company outside China, echoed similar concerns.

“Tungsten is a key component in almost the entire US industrial, technology and defense base. The President has once again shown that these tariffs are to benefit American industry and not just ideological whims. The White House recognizes the fragility of the tungsten supply chain, especially now that the Department of Defense has tungsten in its highest supply-risk tier.”