The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to continue its investigation into imports of unwrought palladium from Russia, ruling there is reasonable indication that the U.S. mining industry is being harmed by unfairly priced and subsidized Russian imports.
The decision follows a letter last month from Montana’s congressional delegation urging the Trump administration to act against what they described as Russia’s “predatory” palladium trade practices. Lawmakers warned that Russian imports have undercut domestic production and jeopardized critical mineral security.
The Sibanye-Stillwater Metallurgical Complex in Columbus, Montana — the nation’s only primary source of palladium and platinum — has been directly affected, with nearly 700 jobs lost as a result of market pressures from Russian dumping.
“Russia has routinely undercut Montana’s mining industry by flooding the U.S. market with unwrought, underpriced palladium,” Sen. John Sheehy said. “We cannot allow overseas adversaries to secure a monopoly over resources critical to both our national defense and our energy economy.”
Sen. Steve Daines said the trade practices have devastated Montana workers. “The dumping of Russian palladium has had a direct impact on Montana livelihoods, causing the loss of nearly 700 jobs at the Sibanye-Stillwater Mine,” Daines said. “Palladium is vital to our national security, and it’s critical that we support Made-in-Montana energy instead of allowing Russian minerals to threaten American jobs.”
Rep. Troy Downing, who represents Montana’s Second District, called the USITC’s decision “welcome news” for national security and laid-off miners. “I won’t stop fighting for an outcome that secures domestic critical mineral production and restores these high-paying jobs,” Downing said.
Rep. Ryan Zinke said defending Montana’s mining industry is essential to safeguarding U.S. security. “Russia has manipulated the palladium market to try to drive American production out of business,” Zinke said. “The Sibanye-Stillwater mine is the only primary source of palladium in the country; protecting it means protecting America’s ability to defend itself and power its economy.”