U.S. Seeks Ideas for Mineral Trade Pact to Power Future Tech
Published Date: 2/26/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. wants your ideas on a new trade deal to make sure we have steady, fair access to important minerals used in tech and clean energy. This plan aims to boost mining and processing at home and with friendly countries, keeping prices fair and supply strong. If you’re involved in mining, manufacturing, or trade, speak up by March 19, 2026, to help shape policies that could impact jobs and investments.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Import Restrictions from Non-Party Sources
The notice asks for comment on measures parties could implement to restrict imports from trading partners that are not party to the agreement—examples cited include ad valorem, specific, or compound tariffs and quotas or tariff-rate quotas. These measures would be intended to establish market-based supply among agreement parties.
Minimum Prices and Border Measures
The notice says USTR anticipates a plurilateral agreement that would include commitments by parties to implement minimum prices or other price mechanisms, with appropriate border measures, to ensure secure and fairly-priced markets among agreement parties. These measures could be used to generate demand for critical minerals and encourage investment in mining, processing, and refining.
Incentives to Reshore Mining and Processing
USTR requests input on trade policies to incentivize reshoring of mining, processing, refining, and production of critical minerals and their derivatives to the United States and like-minded partners. The goal is to accelerate domestic and allied-country buildout of supply chains to support investment and jobs in those sectors.
Channeling Scrap Into Domestic Production
USTR seeks comment on efforts to accelerate buildout of market-based supply, including ensuring that scrap metal and recyclable materials flow into additional domestic production of critical minerals. This would aim to increase domestic feedstocks for processing and refining.
Price Transparency and Market Monitoring
The notice states USTR is considering measures to improve price transparency in markets for critical minerals so prices better reflect extraction, processing, and refining costs, and is interested in addressing monopolistic or monopsonistic practices. These efforts aim to support investment decisions and market resilience.
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Key Dates
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