Africa-Press – Rwanda. Rwandan tungsten producers have welcomed the United States government’s move to exempt key minerals including tungsten, gold, graphite and uranium from global tariffs, saying the decision could spur long-term investment and secure Rwanda’s role as a reliable supplier of critical resources.
The executive order, signed late on Friday, September 12 by President Donald Trump, covers minerals essential for nuclear energy, aerospace, electronics, medical devices and advanced manufacturing.
While the order introduced new levies on certain silicone products, resin and aluminium hydroxide, it streamlined the process for granting tariff exemptions tied to trade agreements with partners such as the European Union, Japan and South Korea.
In a statement, the White House said the exemptions reflect Washington’s efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing while ensuring access to strategic resources “that cannot be grown, mined or manufactured domestically.”
Speaking to The New Times, Peter Geleta, CEO of Trinity Metals which operates Rwanda’s Nyakabingo mine, Africa’s largest tungsten producer, said the exemption is a positive development.
“This is a very positive decision because Trinity Metals recently entered into a two-year agreement with Global Tungsten & Powder (GTP), a leading US-based tungsten manufacturer. The introduction of any tariff would have had a negative effect on this arrangement from a financial perspective,” he said.
Rwanda is the world’s fourth-largest tungsten producer after China, North Korea and Russia. Nyakabingo mine recently commenced shipments to the US in August 2025, marking a milestone in Rwanda’s mineral trade relations.
“Although there has never been a tariff on tungsten supply chains into the US, this exemption provides certainty that tungsten will remain protected. It confirms the strategic importance of Rwandan tungsten to the US market,” Geleta added.
Industry players say the exemption not only secures existing trade but also sends a strong signal to international investors about Rwanda’s potential.
“With the right investment in our largely undeveloped tungsten resources, Rwanda could become a major supplier not just to the US but also to other Western markets,” Geleta said.
Rwanda has a target of generating over USD 2.17 billion in annual mineral exports by 2029, and tungsten is expected to play a key role in the growth. Nyakabingo mine already ramps up output of over 1,400 tonnes of wolframite annually.
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