CRS In Focus, U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals Agreement and Trade Policy Outlook

CRS In Focus IF12517 (updated November 2026) reviews the March 2023 U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals Agreement covering cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and nickel, noting the agreement did not alter U.S. law or existing tariffs. The report surveys subsequent developments including a 15% §232 tariff on Japanese automotive products, a 12.5% general tariff on most Japanese goods, a 2025 bilateral framework...