politics
Trump Signs Executive Order Restricting Defense Contractors’ Use of Materials from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday restricting where defense contractors source critical minerals and components for Pentagon weapons. The order, effective January 1, 2027, targets suppliers from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
Jul 20, 3:52 PM·1m read1 source
Washington ExaminerAudio version
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The order ends waivers that have allowed defense contractors and subcontractors to bypass existing laws prohibiting the sourcing of certain materials from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro stated.
It takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and directs War Secretary Pete Hegseth to speed up the testing of new source materials that could replace those coming from unreliable foreign suppliers, the Washington Examiner reported.
Navarro described the supply chains involved. “The fighter jet, missile battery, naval vessel, radar system, drone, or armored vehicle does not begin on the factory floor of a prime contractor,” he said. “In a major defense program, those chains may run five or six tiers deep, while government visibility often stops at the first or second,” Navarro added.
Navarro said the purpose of the order was to eliminate American dependencies on the rest of the world. “We’re going to make this stuff here as much as possible,” he said. “We will work with our allies as much as possible.
