The US tariff exemptions have Rwandan tungsten miners feeling optimistic
The United States government’s decision to exempt important minerals including tungsten, gold, graphite, and uranium from international tariffs has been hailed by Rwandan tungsten producers, who say it might encourage long-term investment and guarantee Rwanda’s position as a dependable supplier of vital resources.
President Donald Trump signed the executive order late Friday, September 12, which addresses minerals needed for advanced manufacturing, electronics, medical devices, nuclear energy, and aerospace.
The decision simplified the procedure for providing tariff exclusions linked to trade agreements with countries like the European Union, Japan, and South Korea, even though it imposed new taxes on specific silicone goods, resin, and aluminum hydroxide.
Washington’s efforts to boost domestic production while guaranteeing access to key resources “that cannot be grown, mined, or manufactured domestically” are reflected in the exemptions, according to a White House statement.
Peter Geleta, CEO of Trinity Metals, the company that runs Rwanda’s Nyakabingo mine, Africa’s largest producer of tungsten, told The New Times that the exemption is a good thing.
Trinity Metals just signed a two-year contract with Global Tungsten & Powder (GTP), a top tungsten manufacturer in the US, thus this is a very wise move. From a financial standpoint, this partnership would have suffered if any tariff had been implemented, he stated.
After China, North Korea, and Russia, Rwanda ranks fourth globally in terms of tungsten production. A significant turning point in Rwanda’s mineral trade ties was reached in August 2025 when the Nyakabingo mine started shipping to the US.
“This exemption ensures that tungsten will continue to be protected even though there has never been a tariff on tungsten supply chains entering the US. It demonstrates Rwandan tungsten’s strategic value to the US market,” Geleta continued.
According to industry participants, the exemption not only protects current trade but also strongly conveys Rwanda’s potential to foreign investors.
“Rwanda could become a major supplier not only to the US but to other Western markets with the right investment in our largely undeveloped tungsten resources,” Geleta stated.
By 2029, Rwanda wants to export minerals worth over USD 2.17 billion annually, and tungsten is anticipated to be a major contributor to this expansion. The Nyakabingo mine already increases its yearly production of wolframite by more than 1,400 tonnes.
