Zainab Usman on Critical Minerals and AGOA

U.S. critical mineral security relies on a growing network of sectoral trade deals that function as industrial policy tools to diversify supply chains away from China. These agreements, while often non-binding, provide critical signals to private investors and incorporate language supporting domestic refining and processing in partner countries. However, the feasibility of these strategies remains uncertain, as many mineral-rich nations in Africa and Southeast Asia are reluctant to alienate China, their major trading partner. Furthermore, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has largely failed to drive significant industrialization due to a reliance on tariff reductions rather than comprehensive investment in manufacturing. Future policy must shift toward strategic economic partnerships that align American supply chain security objectives with the development priorities of emerging economies, moving beyond the current cycle of short-term legislative extensions.