Video: Tariffs on allies will boost Chinese critical minerals imports, says Bipartisan Policy Center

Imposing tariffs on allies will make Chinese imports more competitive, according to John Jacobs, a critical minerals expert at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

In an interview with MINING.COM host Devan Murugan, Jacobs discussed President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, along with a 10% tariff on critical minerals.

“Even if we mine these minerals in the United States, many are still shipped to China for processing,” he said.

“And if they pass through Chinese processing supply chains and are then reimported into America, it’s hard to argue that those supply chains are secure.”

According to Jacobs, the goal should be to make US critical minerals—after processing—the final competitive product.

“But it doesn’t help if you then impose additional tariffs on imports from our allies. That will only make Chinese imports more competitive by comparison.”