U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy led a letter from Montana’s congressional delegation urging President Donald Trump to take immediate action against Russia’s palladium exports, calling for a 50 percent tariff on unwrought palladium imports from Russia to protect American jobs and domestic mineral production.
The letter, also signed by Senator Steve Daines, Rep. Troy Downing, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, cites the impact of Russia’s market manipulation on Sibanye-Stillwater, Montana’s metallurgical complex and the only primary source of palladium and platinum in the United States.
“Russia currently dominates global palladium production and has exploited this position to undercut American producers,” the delegation 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. The result has been catastrophic for Montana workers. Prices have collapsed by more than half, leading to steep production cuts, hundreds of high-paying mining jobs lost, and the real threat of total mine closure. America cannot afford to become dependent on Russian-controlled palladium, especially at a time of growing global instability. If we act now, we can save what remains of our domestic industry, bring back hundreds of high-paying mining jobs, and re-establish a strong supply chain in America.”
The letter highlights that Sibanye-Stillwater and the United Steelworkers filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission on July 30, 2025, alleging that Russian palladium imported through Germany is dumped and subsidized, harming U.S. producers.
The delegation urged the president to act immediately, arguing that a tariff would level the playing field, halt unfair foreign competition, and restore domestic production. “A 50 percent tariff on Russian unwrought palladium would be a bold, America First action to level the playing field, stop unfair foreign competition, and restore U.S. production. It would send a clear message: the days of hostile foreign regimes exploiting our markets and killing our jobs are over,” the letter states.