U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a probe into potential new tariffs on all U.S. critical minerals imports, a major escalation in his dispute with global trade partners and an attempt to directly rebuke industry leader China.

The president has watered down some of his trade demands, but that’s created confusion in the markets and has forced his administration to adapt its messaging.

Trump has defended his tariff strategy as a way to restore U.S. manufacturing and push trading partners to eliminate what he calls unfair barriers to American goods. Why It Matter