Background on Key Players and Their Relevance
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in the United States and the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex) have jointly called for the inclusion of critical minerals standards in the review of the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) scheduled for July 2026.
The NAM, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the largest industrial trade association representing the U.S. manufacturing sector, with 13 million members producing goods in the United States. It contributes $2.9 trillion to the U.S. economy and accounts for nearly 53% of private sector research in the country.
Camimex, representing Mexico’s mining industry, views the joint USMCA review as a “crucial moment” to strengthen and revitalize the mining sector across North America.
Key Points and Proposed Actions
- Support for a Critical Minerals Agreement: NAM advocates for developing a critical minerals agreement as part of the USMCA review to expand production and processing of critical minerals and establish integrated supply chains for these minerals in North America.
- Creating a Specific Mining Chapter: Camimex proposes including a dedicated mining chapter for North America in the USMCA review, which would provide greater legal security for investors and foster shared interests throughout the region.
- Leveraging Regional Resources: Both NAM and Camimex emphasize the importance of utilizing each country’s natural resources to bolster manufacturing activities in the United States. Canada is a significant producer of several critical minerals that the U.S. imports from China, while Mexico has abundant reserves of minerals like silver, zinc, lead, and copper.
Importance of Critical Minerals and Dependence on Imports
Manufacturers extensively use critical minerals in a wide array of products, including aerospace and defense systems, automotive parts and vehicles, electrical grid components, industrial robotics and automation, consumer electronics, and more.
Despite having ample domestic resources, the United States remains heavily reliant on imports for many critical minerals identified by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). China is the primary source for key minerals such as tantalum, tungsten, germanium, zinc, gallium, graphite, and rare earths.
The U.S. also depends on imports for silicon, magnesium, manganese, titanium, and nickel. Aluminum is a critical metal with significant trade exposure.
Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Mineral Security
As the U.S. government implements measures to boost domestic production of critical minerals, NAM suggests that Mexico and Canada can complement these efforts by contributing their natural resources. This collaboration would support increased manufacturing activities in the United States.
Canada is a major producer of several critical minerals that the U.S. imports from China and other distant countries. Meanwhile, Mexico holds substantial reserves of minerals, including silver, zinc, lead, and copper.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are critical minerals? Critical minerals are essential components in various technologies and industries, including aerospace, defense, electronics, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.
- Why are NAM and Camimex advocating for critical minerals standards in the USMCA? Both organizations aim to expand production and processing of critical minerals in North America, establish integrated supply chains, and reduce dependence on imports from countries like China.
- Which minerals are considered critical, and why is the U.S. reliant on imports? Critical minerals include tantalum, tungsten, germanium, zinc, gallium, graphite, rare earths, silicon, magnesium, manganese, titanium, nickel, and aluminum. The U.S. imports these minerals heavily due to limited domestic production and reliance on foreign sources.
- How can collaboration between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada enhance mineral security? By leveraging each country’s natural resources, the region can bolster domestic production of critical minerals, reduce dependence on imports, and support increased manufacturing activities in the United States.
