Critical Minerals, Critical Countdown: 90 Days to Get It Right
A Temporary Tariff Thaw Unlocks Critical Minerals, but Can the U.S. Seize the Moment?

In a world where trade wars flare hotter than a steel furnace, the U.S. and China have decided to play nice—for 90 days, at least. Announced on May 12, 2025, after weekend talks in Geneva, this bilateral deal slashes tariffs and pries open China’s grip on critical minerals like antimony, rare earths, and gallium. It’s a diplomatic detente that’s got markets buzzing and miners dreaming, but don’t pop the champagne yet. This truce is a Band-Aid on a fractured supply chain, and for critical minerals—vital for everything from fighter jets to solar panels—the stakes are sky-high. Let’s unpack the deal, zoom in on the minerals that keep the world spinning, and ask: is this a game-changer or just a geopolitical timeout?
The Deal: Tariffs Down, Minerals Up
Picture this: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer squaring off with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng in a Geneva conference room, hammering out a deal to cool the trade war’s latest inferno. The result? Starting May 14, 2025, tariffs on Chinese goods entering the U.S. drop from a jaw-dropping 145% to a still-hefty 30%, while U.S. goods heading to China see duties fall from 125% to 10% Fast Markets, May 13, 2025. But the real kicker for the mining crowd? China’s agreed to lift its export bans on critical minerals, imposed since April 2, 2025, which had choked off supplies of antimony, rare earths, and other high-tech essentials White House Joint Statement, May 12, 2025.
This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about survival. Critical minerals are the lifeblood of modern tech and defense. Rare earths power magnets in wind turbines and missiles; antimony hardens armor-piercing rounds; gallium keeps semiconductors humming. When China slammed the brakes on these exports in April 2024, prices skyrocketed—antimony alone hit $40,000 per ton, a 250% jump in a year Reuters, April 4, 2025. The U.S., which imports 63% of its antimony and 82% of its rare earths from China, felt the squeeze hard Bloomberg, April 16, 2025. This deal buys breathing room, but it’s a 90-day sprint, not a marathon victory.
