Presidential Proclamation Adjusts Imports of Processed Critical Minerals to Enhance U.S. National Security
Impact Score: 3.6
Timeline: Negotiation updates due within 180 days of January 14, 2026; potential alternative actions if agreements fail
Summary: The proclamation addresses U.S. reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivatives, which are vital to defense systems, infrastructure, and consumer goods, posing national security risks. It directs the Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative, and Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly secure and diversify supply chains through negotiations or trade restrictions. The order mandates compliance across federal agencies and includes ongoing presidential reporting. Vanderbilt University faces challenges in sourcing materials but gains opportunities for research funding and policy engagement.
Key Actions: Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering should pursue advanced processing research and federal partnerships; the Office of Federal Relations must engage in policy monitoring; Earth and Environmental Sciences should collaborate on domestic capabilities; Owen Graduate School to analyze economic impacts; Tech Transfer Office to commercialize innovations related to critical minerals.
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