Updates in Mining
U.S. Prioritizes Domestic Mining With Emergency Powers
President Trump has called on cold war-era legislation to move the U.S. away from reliance on critical mineral imports, the BBC reports. The executive order calls on government agencies to prioritize domestic mining projects in an effort to secure a reliable supply chain for the materials of the future.
EU Designates “Strategic” Projects
The European Commission has identified 47 projects to be designated as strategic in the region’s efforts to secure critical mineral supplies. The projects run the gamut of materials, covering everything from lithium to cobalt and nickel. As a result of the designation, these projects will receive streamlined permitting, financial support, and other benefits from the EU institutions, according to Mining Weekly.
Potential Tariffs Pushing Copper Prices
Copper prices are surging in the face of potential tariffs from the Trump administration. Traders have been redirecting shipments to the U.S.in anticipation of import tariffs on the red metal. Read more from Mining.com >>.
Updates in Fertilizer
Fertilizer Tariffs Off the Table
The fertilizer industry is rejoicing after President Trump signed an executive order barring fertilizers from import tariffs; Canadian and Mexican imports of fertilizers that meet USMCA preference status will not be subject to duties indefinitely. Read more from CropLife >>.
Push to Include Phosphate and Potash on Critical Minerals List
The Fertilizer Institute released a statement praising bipartisan legislation that would see both potash and phosphates included on the nation’s list of critical minerals, ensuring domestic fertilizer supply for the nation’s growers. The Trump administration has since signed an executive order to designate potash a critical mineral, but phosphate remains outstanding.
Updates in Chemical
Waste Not: Pure Lithium Taps DOE Support
Funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will see Pure Lithium Corp. collaborate with Argonne National Laboratory in an effort to scale the company’s technology for recovering lithium from wastes. The project is another in an ongoing wave of attempts to commercialize the recovery of lithium from wastes. Learn more about the project from Chemical Processing >>.
Chemical Crisis Prompts Call for EU Action
Eight EU countries have urged the European Commission to establish a Critical Chemicals Act to address a growing crisis in the chemical sector, warning that high costs and supply issues are threatening the bloc’s economic resilience. The proposal emphasizes securing production of nearly 20 strategic molecules—such as ethylene, benzene, chlorine, and silicon—within the EU to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. The group also called for targeted investment in sustainable technologies, new production plants, and regulatory reforms to boost competitiveness and safeguard the industry. Read more from Process Engineering >>.
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