New Delhi, April 16 -- Amid the rising tension between the US and China, President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a probe into potential new tariffs on all US critical minerals imports.

It is important to note, China is the leading global producer of 30 out of the 50 minerals deemed critical by the US Geological Survey and has recently been cutting back on its exports.

Earlier several manufacturers, industry consultants, academics had mentioned that the US is overly reliant on Beijing and others for processed versions of the minerals. Trump's new order mentions the concern and said, the US dependency on minerals imports "raises the potential for risks to national security, defense readiness, price stability, and economic prosperity and...