President Trump Directs Negotiations to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains
Impact Score: 2.8
Timeline: Agreements must be finalized within 180 days from January 14, 2026
Summary: President Trump issued a proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to negotiate trade agreements with allies that implement price floors on processed critical minerals and derivatives, addressing national security risks from import reliance. The directive emphasizes boosting domestic production and reinforces global partnerships with countries like Australia and Japan. Vanderbilt University programs including Engineering, Business, and Law face shifts to align research and curricula with national security priorities, alongside opportunities for federal funding and industry collaboration.
Key Actions: Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering should pursue alternative processing research; the Office of Federal Relations must engage federal agencies and partners for funding; and the Center for Technology Transfer should explore commercialization of innovations in critical minerals.
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