U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on Feb. 27 sponsored legislation that would prohibit the importation of certain minerals from Russia until it ends hostilities with Ukraine.
In an effort to protect American mining jobs, the bipartisan Stop Russian Market Manipulation Act, S. 808, which has three original cosponsors, including U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), would ban the import from Russia of braggite, copper, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, and zinc.
“There is no reason the United States should run to Russia for critical minerals that can be found right here at home, including in Montana,” Sen. Daines said. “Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, American mines were under attack and Montana workers paid the price. We’re turning a new leaf with President Trump and this bill will put American mines and American jobs first.”
Sen. Daines originally introduced the identical bill, S. 5050, during the 118th Congress in response to 700 layoffs at a Montana-located mine owned by South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater, a multinational mining and metals processing group with a diverse portfolio of projects and investments globally. The company’s Montana mine is just one of only a few mines in America that produce palladium and platinum.
However, the measure languished in the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, which is now considering the newly reintroduced S. 808.
“We cannot allow Russia to dominate the global market for critical minerals. This is not just an economic issue, but an issue of national security as well,” said Sen. Peters. “This bipartisan bill would help strengthen our domestic supply chains while preventing American dollars from supporting Russia as it continues its war against Ukraine.”
The bill has been endorsed by the National Mining Association.