Mined material shipped from Canada into the U.S. will be affected by a 10 percent tariff, while transformed minerals and metals including EV battery materials will likely see even steeper duties up to 25 percent, said Abigail Hunter, executive director of SAFE’s Center for Critical Minerals Strategy, based on a preliminary understanding of the tariffs. SAFE is a think tank and advocacy group focused on energy and national security issues.
If that occurs, Hunter said, efforts to diversify lithium-ion battery supply chains away from China’s dominance – including precursor, anode and cathode projects in Canada and Mexico – could see a tariff of 25 percent.
Such a policy, Hunter warned, could translate into a disadvantage for domestic supply chains that are beginning to expand and grow in the United States.
“Per our understanding, given that North American battery manufacturing is already more expensive than China’s, our nascent industry will be further disadvantaged under these tariffs,” said Hunter.
Read the full story: “5 ways the Trump tariffs will hit US energy.”
