HR6659-119

What This Bill Does

The Critical Minerals Trade Security Act responds to dependence on foreign critical minerals and foreign producer practices such as price manipulation, overcapacity, and export restrictions. It amends the Trade Act of 1974 to add one Chief Critical Minerals Negotiator alongside the Chief Agricultural Negotiator. The negotiator conducts trade negotiations on critical minerals, enforces trade agreements relating to United States critical-minerals resources, takes action against acts, policies, or practices of trade partners, and leads USTR critical-minerals policy in consultation with State, Energy, Interior, and other officials selected by the United States Trade Representative. Starting September 30, 2026 and annually thereafter, the negotiator must submit and publicly post a report reviewing critical-minerals acts, policies, and practices of countries with significant trade relationships or supply-chain risk. The report must identify vulnerabilities harmful to defense, energy, and critical infrastructure sectors and trade-agreement violations or benefit denials. Within 30 days after each report, the negotiator must send Congress a response plan, including any action under title III, for each harmful practice identified.

Who Benefits and How

Defense manufacturers benefit because the office focuses trade enforcement on minerals used in jet engines, missile guidance, advanced computing, radar, optics, and secure communications. Domestic critical-minerals producers and processors benefit from a USTR official dedicated to supply-chain vulnerabilities and unfair foreign practices. Energy and critical-infrastructure sectors benefit from annual vulnerability reviews. Congress benefits from public reports and response plans. Allies and trade partners that support secure critical-minerals supply chains may benefit from coordinated negotiations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

USTR staff must create and support a new Chief Critical Minerals Negotiator function, run annual reviews, publish reports, and prepare response plans within 30 days. State, Energy, and Interior officials must consult on trade policy. Foreign producers and trade partners may face enforcement, negotiations, or trade actions if their practices create vulnerabilities or violate agreements. Importers and manufacturers may need to adjust sourcing if response plans change trade conditions. Federal taxpayers fund the new reporting and coordination workload.

Key Provisions

• Adds a Chief Critical Minerals Negotiator to the Trade Act of 1974.
• Requires the negotiator to conduct critical-minerals trade negotiations and enforce related trade agreements.
• Directs coordination with State, Energy, Interior, and other USTR-selected officials.
• Requires annual public reports starting September 30, 2026 on foreign critical-minerals practices and supply-chain vulnerabilities.
• Requires a response plan within 30 days for harmful trade practices or supply-chain vulnerabilities.