Trump Revises Global Tariff Framework, Exempts Gold, Tungsten, Uranium and Other Critical Commodities

On September 5, the White House confirmed that President Trump has signed an executive order revising the United States’ global tariff framework. Effective next Monday, the order removes gold, tungsten, uranium, and graphite from the list of dutiable imports, while placing silicon products under the new tariff schedule.

According to the presidential directive, the adjustments extend beyond these strategic metals to include aircraft components, generic pharmaceuticals, coffee, and specialty spices—items that cannot be produced or cultivated domestically—and grant them relief from import duties. The policy explicitly affirms that gold bars will no longer face tariffs, reversing a prior Customs and Border Protection ruling that had suggested duties might apply and had unsettled markets.

Critical minerals vital to aerospace, consumer electronics, medical devices, and other high-tech industries will benefit from the exemption. Graphite and tungsten join uranium on the zero-tariff list, ensuring uninterrupted access to these essential inputs. At the same time, a range of antibiotics and other medications now receive reduced duties, despite being under a separate Department of Commerce trade investigation.

The order also streamlines enforcement of existing trade and security framework agreements. Going forward, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce may implement tariff-relief provisions negotiated with partners—including the European Union, Japan, and South Korea—without requiring a fresh presidential signature for each measure. This procedural change is designed to expedite the application of agreed exemptions and enhance the efficiency of U.S. trade policy execution.