Critical Minerals Investigation – Member Input Requested on Effect to Industry

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is currently engaged in an investigation regarding the effect that a reliance on foreign imports of “critical minerals” and their derivative products (see definition below) has on the national security of the United States. This investigation is being undertaken to determine if any trade actions (such as restrictions on imports, additional tariffs, or promotion of domestic production) should be taken to protect the nation’s security interests.
NSSF is currently considering submitting a comment to BIS on behalf of our members, to illustrate what effect any trade restrictions or additional tariffs on critical minerals might have on our industry. Accordingly, NSSF is interested to learn the following from members:
- Do you import critical minerals or their derivative products for further manufacture or resale?
- If so, which critical minerals do you import, and at approximately what annual volume?
- Which foreign countries do you import these articles from?
- For manufacturers – what categories of products are these critical minerals or derivative products incorporated into?
- For importers and retailers – what types of derivative products do you import?
- If additional tariffs or restrictions on importation were imposed on these articles, what effect would that have on your business? (For example, would your manufacturing costs be greatly impacted? Would increased costs or restrictions on available imports result in decreased sales? Or would such action spur beneficial growth in alternative supply chains?)
- Do you have any suggestions on actions that the government might take to reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals without negatively impacting industry? Read more