EMA Supports Trump Administration Investigation into National Security Threats from Copper Imports

Arlington, Va., March 5, 2025 – The Essential Minerals Association (EMA) released the following statement regarding President Trump’s Executive Order directing the Secretary of Commerce to investigate possible threats to U.S. national security due to being over reliant on foreign sources for copper. 

“We applaud the Trump Administration’s continued focus on the need to develop a more robust supply of domestic minerals necessary for the nation’s manufacturing, agricultural sectors and our overall national security,” EMA President Chris Greissing said. “Our dependence on foreign adversaries who aggressively weaponize this advantage must end. The Administration’s executive orders are a great first step in the process. Given the geopolitical conditions we currently are facing, it is vital for Congress to quickly act as well in a bipartisan manner to pass comprehensive reforms necessary to ensure a stronger domestic supply chain.

“Developing mineral operations is a very expensive and lengthy process. Current laws and regulations in place make it even more complex to the extent that it is sometimes hard to justify the necessary upfront investments. The permitting process is broken. This is not just a problem for the minerals sector, but it has also been a large cause of how we find ourselves being overly reliant on China for our minerals, processing, and manufacturing of goods. In addition, many green energy projects were slowed significantly by this current system. 

“While the United States has an abundant supply of minerals, the cost, litigation, and potential for a future administration to rescind a permit have prevented us from truly realizing the benefits of a robust domestic minerals sector if the right laws and regulations were in place. EMA will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to build on the strong support the Trump Administration has provided to bring all stakeholders together to pass these vital reforms and strengthen our overall domestic supply chain.”

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The Essential Minerals Association (EMA) is the representative voice for companies that extract and process a vital and beneficial group of raw materials and minerals, which are the essential ingredients for many of the products used in everyday life. EMA ensures that the voices of its member companies and the socio-economic benefits they provide – from mining to end-use products – are heard by government leaders as well as the general public. Visit essentialminerals.org to learn more.