Tariff actions, sanctions, regulations, ESG and new-source events · pushed within 90 min
12 alerts · sorted by date descending
Office of the United States Trade Representative published final rule. Affects Chinese-origin spherical natural and synthetic anode-grade graphite. IRA FEOC rules apply concurrently — qualified non-Chinese material command premium.
Council Regulation (EU) 2026/823 extends import restrictions on Russian Class-1 nickel through Q2-2027. Existing long-term contracts grandfathered until 2026-12-31. EU OEMs accelerating substitution programs.
Bécancour, Québec — first coated spherical purified graphite shipment to Panasonic Energy. Annual run-rate 18,000t; full ramp to 42,000t by Q3-2026. Material qualifies as Foreign Entity of Concern compliant under IRA §30D.
Ministry of Commerce Order 2026/9 brings NdFeB and SmCo finished magnets and motor sub-assemblies into the strategic export licensing system. License cycle 30–45 days. Western magnet buyers urged to verify Q3-2026 deliveries.
Fastmarkets and Argus assessments converge on $78–80/kg range as Chinese export-license tightening tightens free-market flow. Lynas and Iluka contracts repricing at quarterly indexed mechanism.
Dirección General de Aguas issued findings on brine extraction reporting. SQM committed to 18-month remediation. Buyers with ESG-indexed contracts likely to see clauses triggered Q3-2026.
Parliament passed amendments to 2002 Mining Code requiring state participation of 30% in new strategic mineral projects (cobalt, copper, lithium). Existing concessions exempt; renewals subject. Glencore, CMOC, ERG concession renewals 2026-2028.
AUD$1.65bn AUS-government-backed refinery commissioned ahead of schedule. Nameplate 5,500tpa NdPr equivalent + first commercial Dy/Tb separation outside China. Offtake LoIs with US DoD, KR Hyundai, JP Toyota.
European Commission delegated act tightening Critical Raw Materials Act diversification targets. HPMSM, gallium, germanium added to most-restrictive tier. Compliance trajectory monitored at EU member-state level.
Final IRS guidance under IRC §30D(d)(7) confirms lithium converted in China is FEOC-tainted regardless of mining origin. Triggered automatic price spread between IRA-qualified and global indices, currently $1,800/t.
President signed Reg. 18/2026. Downstream value-addition mandate maintained. Chinese-built HPAL capacity now ~620ktpa Ni-eq, but ESG and FEOC issues block IRA qualification of most output.
Fastmarkets weekly assessment closed at $410/kg, up 24.8% MoM. Buyers reporting allocation cuts of 15–30% from Chinese suppliers. JP, KR, US activating emergency stockpile draw-downs.