Copper and Other Critical Minerals
By Daniel Domsky
From the wires connecting machines in a production plant to the brakes in a car, copper plays a crucial role in many manufacturing operations. Because of copper’s importance in America’s industrial base, President Trump has signaled his interest in expanding production in the U.S. Through levying Trump tariffs, imported copper seems more expensive, and domestic production appears to be competitively priced for copper and other critical minerals.
Because manufacturing relies so heavily on copper and other critical rare earth minerals, restricting supply through tariffs leaves U.S. manufacturing vulnerable until domestic industry can be developed further. In an interconnected world, the U.S. relies on a global supply of copper and other critical minerals. As it currently stands, the U.S. is 100% reliant on imports for 12 of the 50 minerals on the List of Critical Minerals. Additionally, even if the U.S. wanted to source all its minerals domestically, the process to set up a mine could take over 30 years. Given the vulnerability of U.S. access to critical minerals, the U.S. needs to depend on its neighbors.
In the March 20, 2025, Executive Order, President Trump ordered an increase in critical domestic mineral mining production and refining to reduce reliance on China. The U.S. can reduce its reliance on China by doubling down on regional cooperation, especially in Mexico. Mexico has large, underdeveloped copper and zinc reserves in northern Mexico and large amounts of unexploited reserves of lithium, zinc, antimony, and other minerals.
Mexico can play a central role in the U.S.’s mission to expand copper and critical mineral production. By sharing a nearly two-thousand-mile border and a robust trade agreement, the U.S. and Mexico already have a framework to expand cooperation. Mexico is the third-largest exporter of copper to the U.S., just behind Chile and Canada, but with far more potential, already trading over $983 million in 2024. Additionally, much of the bilateral copper and mineral trade has been exempt from tariffs.
In addition to copper exports, expanding the extraction of critical minerals, specifically antimony, can play a major role in lowering dependence on China. As it currently stands, China supplies 63% of the U.S.’s antimony imports. The expansion of antimony production in Mexico could shift the global, Chinese-dominated output of many critical minerals, including antimony, to a more stable regional market. Mexico stands as a valuable alternative, particularly for the United States, which seeks to reduce its exposure to geopolitical risk. If developed strategically, Mexico’s mineral reserves could serve as the foundation of a secure North American critical minerals corridor. This is yet another reason why a friendly trading relationship between the U.S. and Mexico is critical and urgent.
Lithium could also play a key role in increased North American interconnectivity. Mexico nationalized lithium rights in 2022, but the U.S. Secretary of State has already indicated its desire to increase regional lithium production. While increasing lithium production in Mexico may present a challenge due to the mineral’s nationalization, the 2026 USMCA review presents an opportunity for revising increased mineral access across North America.
Despite differing opinions about the Trump administration’s mission to reshore manufacturing production in the United States, one thing is clear: the U.S. cannot do it alone. 80% of Mexican mineral exports go to the U.S. market, and they already play an essential role in helping their northern neighbor by supplying key minerals. As the U.S. seeks to rebuild its industrial base and reduce strategic dependencies, Mexico’s underdeveloped mineral reserves present an opportunity for continued partnership and cooperation.
About the Author
Daniel Domsky is a student studying Economics and International Relations at American University in Washington, DC. Originally from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Daniel worked for over ten years traveling across villages and cities across central Mexico. With this experience, he saw firsthand how economic development and investment can improve the lives of millions.
Over his academic career, Daniel has focused his studies on issues surrounding supply chain shifts, transnational migration, and economic development. Daniel has previously held internships at the Embassy of Mexico in the United States and at the Democratic National Committee.
