Golden Finance reported that Trump launched an investigation into the need to impose tariffs on key mineral products, the latest move to expanding trade wars in key sectors of the global economy. The order signed on Tuesday, Trump asked the Commerce Secretary to launch a Section 232 investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to "evaluate the impact of imports of these materials on U.S. security and resilience." If the Commerce Secretary finds that imported key mineral products threaten "national security, the president decides to impose tariffs," these taxes will replace the so-called reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners announced earlier this month. The order involves key minerals, including rare earth elements, as the "cornerstone of the defense industry's foundation" in the United States and is crucial to the manufacturing of jet engines, missile guidance systems, advanced computers, as well as radar, optical and communication equipment. The order also deals with uranium as well as processed key minerals and derivatives. According to the law, the Minister of Commerce shall submit the results of the investigation within 270 days. The White House said that although the United States has some important minerals, it is still importing in large quantities, posing economic and security risks. The U.S. government said that at least 15 key minerals in the United States depend on imports. Critical minerals are used in defense, automobiles, space travel, batteries and other equipment, but most of the U.S. supply depends on other countries.