US, Mexico to develop coordinated trade policies on critical minerals

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The United States and Mexico on Wednesday unveiled a 60-day plan to develop coordinated trade policies aimed at mitigating vulnerabilities in critical mineral supply chains, including possible price floors for certain mineral imports.

The plan, which includes no specific mention of China and its chokehold on processing many such minerals, calls for the two nations to consult on including price floors in a binding plurilateral agreement on trade in critical minerals.

Separately, U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday unveiled plans to marshal allies into a preferential trade bloc for critical minerals as Washington escalates efforts to shore up supply chains essential to advanced manufacturing.

U.S. AIMS TO FIX VULNERABLE SUPPLY CHAINS

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S.-Mexico plan underscored the countries' shared commitment to address global market distortions that have left North American supply chains vulnerable to disruptions.

"Correcting these vulnerabilities is imperative, as critical minerals are strategic assets integral to modern and innovative industrial economies, and diverse, resilient, and market-based supply chains are essential for our economic and national security," the plan said.

It comes months before a mandatory review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. There was no mention of Canada in the USTR news release or the joint action plan.

A Canadian government source not authorized to speak publicly said Ottawa was more focused on the USMCA review than on striking deals in individual sectors.

Initial assessment of the U.S.-Mexico deal was that the terms would not necessarily have been favorable to Canada, said the source.

Asked why the agreement did not include Canada, Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said Ottawa had worked closely with its allies on critical minerals development and supply chain and had taken a leadership role during its presidency of the Group of Seven advanced economies in 2025.

The USTR said the agreement with Mexico was the first of its kind, but said it was working to develop coordinated trade policies for critical minerals and binding plurilateral agreements with other like-minded trading partners.

The U.S. and Mexico agreed to identify specific mining, processing and manufacturing projects for critical minerals in both countries and certain third countries, but gave no details.

The plan says U.S. and Mexican officials will consult on price floors and how they could be incorporated into a binding plurilateral agreement on trade in critical minerals, and other provisions that might be necessary.

Those could include trade measures, regulatory standards for mining and processing, technical and regulatory cooperation, investment promotion and screening, and geological mapping coordination.

Other possible tools could include coordinated responses to prevent disruptions in supply chains and research and development of new technologies and coordinated stockpiling, the plan said.