Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Critical Minerals Agreements

On January 14, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation threatening additional tariffs if trading partners do not sign agreements on critical minerals and derivative products within 180 days after a Section 232 investigation found reliance on foreign sources threatens national security. He directed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to negotiate deals, using the U.S.–Australia framework and proposing price supports and a US$8.5 billion financing pipeline, raising pressures on allies including New Zealand.