Trump Threatens Tariffs on Critical Minerals, NZ at Risk

On 14 January 2026 President Donald Trump issued a proclamation threatening new tariffs on processed critical minerals unless trading partners sign agreements within 180 days. The U.S. claims dependence on over 40 imported critical minerals—rare earths, lithium, cobalt—makes national security vulnerable. The move follows a Section 232 investigation that found U.S. processing capacity lags behind China’s dominance in mining, processing and exporting raw and refined rare‑earth products. Trump’s threat is part of a broader economic war with China, whose 2025 export controls on rare‑earth technologies have already spurred retaliatory U.S. tariffs. While the proclamation lists no specific targets, New Zealand’s 2025 Minerals Strategy, which aims to double mineral‑export value to NZ$3 billion by 2035, signals the country could be approached. The Biden administration’s Indo‑Pacific framework lapsed, but New Zealand’s involvement in the Minerals Security Partnership and its 37‑critical‑mineral list suggests potential exposure to Trump’s demands.