The Montana congressional delegation is urging President Trump to introduce a 50 p.c tariff on Russian palladium imports, after a multinational mining group with a presence within the state submitted an identical request earlier this month.
GOP Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines alongside Reps. Ryan Zinke and Tim Downing despatched a Thursday letter to the Trump administration, asking officers to “stop Russia’s predatory trade practices and protect American jobs and critical mineral production.”
“Specifically, we urge you to immediately impose a 50 percent tariff on imports of unwrought palladium from Russia in response to their ongoing market manipulation and dumping,” the lawmakers wrote.
Russia is at the moment one of many largest suppliers of palladium to the U.S., and its exports have elevated by 42 p.c during the last yr, in accordance with Reuters.
Palladium is a chemical ingredient utilized in catalytic converters, which converts 90 p.c of dangerous emissions from automotive exhaust.
Sibanye-Stillwater, the mining firm, mentioned costs for the ingredient are liable to skyrocketing, skewing the worldwide market in favor of Russia and South Africa, which is one other giant provider of the chemical.
“Russia currently dominates global palladium production and has exploited this position to undercut American producers,” the GOP group wrote.
“By flooding the U.S. market with underpriced palladium bolstered by heavy state subsidies, lax environmental regulations, and government-controlled mining rights Russia is attempting to wipe out domestic competition and secure monopoly control of a mineral critical to both our defense and energy future,” they added, noting a “catastrophic” influence on Montana employees.
Sibanye-Stillwater’s July 30 case might be thought of by the federal authorities throughout the subsequent yr, per the letter, however the Montana Republicans mentioned a “final remedy” is required sooner. They’ve requested the White Home to reply promptly.
Nonetheless, the Trump administration stays locked in peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning the warfare in Ukraine. Earlier this month, the president determined to forego secondary sanctions on the Kremlin with out clarification.
The Hill reached out to the White Home for remark.
