On April 15, 2025, President Trump directed the Secretary of Commerce to initiate an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 examining the threats to national security from imports of processed...more
The new financing initiative aims to enhance collaboration amongst export credit agency and development finance institutions to support financing for critical mineral projects....more
China has strengthened its control over rare metals. Following the implementation of export license administration on germanium and gallium effective August 1, 2023, and on antimony effective September 15, 2024, China has...more
This is the first article in Womble Bond Dickinson’s Energy & Natural Resources thought leadership series titled Striking the Balance: Permitting Reforms for Mining and the Energy Transition. In this series, we’ll explore the...more
The Australian Government recently released its Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030 (CM Strategy). BACKGROUND - Australia holds some of the world’s largest repositories of cobalt, lithium and vanadium — elements critical...more
Critical raw materials, such as rare earths, lithium and cobalt, are essential to the energy transition and to modern and green technologies. As States compete to secure these materials, there is an increasing importance to...more
In recent months, the critical minerals sector has been at the top of government legislative and regulatory agendas and has been subject to substantial media attention. "Critical minerals" is a generic term that refers to a...more
Critical minerals, which include rare earth minerals, are generally defined as minerals that are important to supply chains, but difficult to mine and ship due to scarcity, geopolitical issues, trade policy, or a combination...more
President Biden issued an “Executive Order on America’s Supply Chains” (the “EO”) on February 24, 2021, ordering 100-day and 1-year reviews of certain critical supply chains. The initial 100-day review aims to assess risks...more
[co-authors: Alex Monié, Policy Advisor and Gabriel Harrison, Public Policy Specialist] The annual “must-pass” defense authorization legislation contains provisions to address supply chain domestication in light of the...more
Trump Signs Orders to Speed Up Oil and Gas Pipeline Construction - "President Trump signed two executive orders that he says will speed up construction of pipelines and other projects to enhance the production and...more
West Virginia Surface, Mineral Rights Owners Say Details Will be Key to Getting Co-Tenancy Bill Passed - "Surface and mineral rights owners most affected by co-tenancy legislation say they're wary of jumping on the...more
In This Issue: - United States And Japan Hit Bumps On The Road To TPP Agreement - Senate Commerce Committee Passes Manufacturing Bill - WTO Panel Finds China's Export Restraints On Rare Earth Minerals Violate Trade...more