Commerce and USTR ordered to negotiate critical-minerals agreements and report to the President within 180 days

President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation on January 14, 2026, acting on a Commerce Department Section 232 report that found imports of processed critical minerals and their derivative products (PCMDPs) threaten U.S. national security. The proclamation directs the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate agreements with trading partners (and consider measures such as price floors or import restrictions) to reduce import reliance and strengthen domestic supply chains, with an update required within 180 days.