Trump orders global tariff exemptions on gold, tungsten and critical commodities

The aim is to mitigate security risks and supply chain vulnerabilities

Rowan Dunne

Published

6 hours ago

Donald Trump signed executive orders on Friday to significantly lessen the cost of importing gold, tungsten, uranium and other strategic commodities. This will be made possible by eliminating global tariffs on the materials.

The orders came into force on Monday with the aim of strengthening national security. The exemptions will help prevent price spikes that could be harmful to U.S. businesses and customers.

Gold, for instance, is produced in a modest quantity within the U.S. that doesn’t fulfill domestic needs. Aside from jewellery, coins and bullion, imports of the precious metal are essential for advanced electronics and military technologies while fulfilling central bank demand.

A lack of tungsten is also detrimental to the U.S. due to the fact that it is a critical component in several high-tech devices as well. By eliminating international tariffs, these products will be less expensive to produce. Despite efforts to boost tungsten production in states like Nevada, the supply is insufficient and establishing new mines takes years.

Other commodities impacted under the newly implemented tariff exemptions include graphite, certain pharmaceutical goods, medical devices and aircraft parts. Domestic trading partners involved with these commodities will have a much easier time securing beneficial deals with the government.

In tandem with this announcement, the Trump Administration revealed new levies on silicone products.

The news follows the the president declaring a national emergency in April over the American trade deficits and the subsequent implementation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. It also follows Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick foreshadowing the upcoming changes with statements made a couple of months ago.

“In my judgement, these modifications are necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency,” the president said on Friday.

If you can’t get certain specified materials from sources within the U.S. or they are in short supply within the country, they will now be more economically feasible to obtain.

“If you grow something and we don’t grow it, that can come in for zero,” said Lutnick in July as plans for amended tariff rules were in the works.

#Gold price jumped “AFTER” the Trump administration issued a new executive order Friday afternoon September 5 to exempt #Gold from tariffs.

Stop telling me that “potential tariffs” made #Gold price go up.

Banksters & “Bankster proxy experts” you can do better than this… pic.twitter.com/EvqbTUucwc

— Eric Yeung 👍🚀🌕 (@KingKong9888) September 6, 2025