Trump makes US copper mining a focus of his domestic minerals policy

Cheyenne, WYO. One metal As a center for local mineral policy: copper.

from Talk about Greenland And its wide mineral wealth for Ul to Ukraine for minerals In exchange for helping to tighten the invasion of Russia, Trump made raw materials for modern life a pillar of his external policy.

and Executive order On Tuesday, Trump signed the strengthening of the local copper industry by investigating the effects of national import security and the weight of customs tariffs as a reaction.

“The United States has wide copper reserves, however, our loud energy and refining are dramatically behind global competitors,” says it.

This may mean a new day for us, copper mining, and the new concerns of environmental groups that compete for proposals such as the twin minerals project parked in the waters of the borders of the northern Minnesota border, a wildlife full of lake on the borders of the United States and Canada.

“The White House himself admits that America has” wide supplies “of copper.” Ingred Lyon, CEO of Save the Boundary Waters, said “sacrificing the national treasure that cannot be dispensed with due to a small amount of copper is unnecessary.”

Copper in the request

Copper at least crucial such as lithium and cobalt for rechargeable batteries, rare Earth elements for mobile phones, LED lights and flat -screen TVs. Copper goes to ropes and transport lines that connect tools to energy.

“I think copper is the really most important metal because it is the electric metal,” said Debra Strahoskir, a mining policy consultant. “I think the demand for electricity will remain. Copper is indispensable for that.”

The use of US copper, imports and exports has fluctuated over the past two decades, according to Copper Development AssociationBut the scarcity of melting is compared to the localized amount locally remained a fixed subject.

Where does the United States get copper?

While the United States in 2024 took advantage of an estimated 1.1 million tons (one million metric tons) of copper and exporting about a third of that in a non -repetitive form in the first place, it imported 810,000 tons (735,000 metric tons), almost all of them were spent, approximately, According to the American geological survey.

Trump accurately refers to China as the world’s leading refinery for copper, with more than half the ability of the world’s son -in -law. China, however, is not a direct factor in American supplies. Two -thirds of the United States’ refined copper imports come from Chile, the world’s leading copper product, with less money from Canada, Mexico and Peru.

These numbers cannot be seen with a high demand for copper to support the construction of transport lines and the manufacture of wind turbines and electric cars. Some predict the global demand to double by 2030 and continue to rise, as noted National Mining Association.

Even before Trump’s copper plan, the association was encouraged by Trump’s executive orders that enhance mining. One elevators Government rules and regulations responsible for “unjustified burdens” about mining and mineral treatment call for updating the list of American geological minerals that are important to the nation and support efforts to find new sources of these minerals.

“Made in America, America first, begins with American mining and American miners who supported this president throughout the country,” said Rich Nolan, CEO and CEO of the CEO, CEO of the CEO and CEO of CEO and CEO of US Mining President.

Copper projects faced delays

The priorities of the Supreme Mining Association include:

– The plan is $ 1.7 billion Twin The copper mine-Nickel-Kobalt, which is competing with environmental groups, is an unacceptable danger to the border water boat area in the northeast of Minnesota, which is the most federal wilderness. The last blow to the project came when a judge Re – Rental contracts.

– 1 billion dollars stopped Newrange Nickel copper A mine, also in the northeast of Minnesota, which The developers are looking to redesign To make more efficiency in the environment and costs after a series of setbacks and organizational.

– The disputed Copper decision A project in Oak Flat in the center of Arizona, which is believed to be the third largest deposit in the world of copper ore and was a site A battle between the local population Those who want the mine for economic development and the indigenous people who consider the Earth sacred. Court of Appeal in 2024 Prevented Transfer of decisive lands to the mine.

– South Arizona suggested Copper Mulchwin mine, previously known as the Rosemont mine, who was late By court ruling This is limited to how to ignore waste mining companies on American forest service lands under Mining Law 1872.

All four projects are led by non -American companies including Toronto, Canada -based Hudbay Mineals Inc, Copper World.

Some mines do not work at full capacity

The federal government should have a national strategy for environmental protection and public health by avoiding new terrain and increasing production in the current mines that operate at full capacity.

“This will have a meaning, right? But there is nothing like that. Instead, it is somewhat similar to The Wild West where companies-in our condition here in Arizona, most of the foreign companies-can come. The only decision-making process is that the company discovers the place they think can get the most money.”

For decades, Arizona Cooper has made the United States the best producer in the world. Now it is ranked fifth.

For struhsacker, industry consultant, the lack of government coordination has stopped permits and developing suffocating mines. She said that Trump’s executive orders are aware of the need to “make allowing work again.”