Addressing the Threat to the Domestic Supply Chain From Reliance on Critical Minerals From Foreign Adversaries and Supporting the Domestic Mining and Processing Industries

The order declares a national emergency — citing U.S. dependence on China and other foreign adversaries for rare earth elements, gallium, graphite, barite, and other critical minerals — and invokes IEEPA authority. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to investigate that dependence and submit a report within 60 days recommending executive action, which may include tariffs, quotas, or other import restrictions. It directs all relevant agencies to identify legal authorities and funding they can deploy to expand domestic mining, then submit implementation strategies. The Secretary of State must report on diplomatic options for building allied supply chains; the Department of Energy must issue updated loan-guarantee guidance and propose new rules to make domestic mineral projects eligible for existing clean-energy financing programs. All permitting agencies are directed to accelerate approvals for domestic mineral supply-chain projects.

The order does not itself impose tariffs or quotas — those would follow from the Interior report and subsequent executive action. It also amends Executive Order 13817 to require periodic updates to the official critical-minerals list, and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to explore using National Defense Resources Preparedness grant authority to fund new production equipment.

Federal agencies across defense, energy, environment, and diplomacy directed to report and act; the domestic mining and mineral-processing industry, which stands to gain streamlined permitting and new financing; companies in aerospace, electronics, telecommunications, and electric vehicles that rely on critical minerals; and importers of Chinese minerals who could face future tariffs or quotas.

Invoking IEEPA unlocks broad presidential authority to block or restrict transactions with foreign adversaries, meaning tariffs or import bans on Chinese rare earths and other minerals could follow within months. Industries from defense contractors to cell-phone manufacturers and EV battery producers face potential supply disruptions or cost increases if current sourcing relationships are restricted.

The order cascades in timed stages: within 30 days, agencies identify funding authorities and Energy issues loan guidance; within 45 days, State reports on allied supply-chain diplomacy; within 60 days, Interior delivers an investigation report with specific trade-restriction recommendations and agencies submit implementation strategies; within 90 days, Energy proposes revised regulations. Interior then delivers threat assessments to the President every 180 days beginning January 1, 2021. Actual trade measures require a further presidential decision after the Interior report, so enforcement teeth depend on that subsequent action.