On Tuesday, May 25, Reuters reported that U.S. President Joe Biden said he will rely on ally countries to supply the bulk of the metals needed to build electric vehicles (EV) and focus on processing them domestically into battery parts, part of a strategy designed to placate environmentalists, citing two unnamed administration officials with direct knowledge.
The statements caught many in the mining industry off guard. Some U.S. metal/nonmetal miners have been trying to curry favor with the Biden administration, hoping to supply natural resources to the expected EV boom and the upcoming infrastructure investments. Industrial labor unions have been unhappy with the administration since it eliminated the jobs associated with the Keystone XL Pipeline and they saw this as another inexplicable decision that would neither create jobs nor secure mineral supplies.
On Wednesday, May 26, the Biden administration “clarified” its position, saying the reporting incorrectly characterized the administration’s approach, which includes responsibly developing domestic mineral resources. “President Biden is focused on seizing the EV market, sourcing and manufacturing the supply chain here in America, and creating good-paying, union jobs,” said Ali Zaidi, deputy national climate advisor. “Building American-made EVs and shipping them around the world will include leveraging American-made parts and resources. This includes responsibly pursuing, developing, and mining critical minerals and materials used for EV batteries.”
