2026-03868NoticeWallet

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.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this regulation affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Key Dates

Published Date
Comments Due
2/26/2026
3/19/2026

Department and Agencies

Department
Independent Agency
Agency
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Source: View HTML

Related Federal Register Documents

Previous / Next Documents

Back to Federal Register

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in