Last week, USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer confirmed the administration will not support a long-term renewal of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA). Instead, the agreement will undergo annual reviews through its scheduled expiration in 2036, shaping its evolution and determining which issues rise to the top of the agenda.
As the annual review process unfolds, the Council urges the administration to continue prioritizing provisions that boost critical mineral supply chains, especially those vital to advanced energy technologies. The administration has consistently recognized the strategic importance of mineral inputs through both domestic action and international partnerships, and USMCA provides an important platform to strengthen U.S. supply chains, competitiveness, and economic security.
USMCA partners are uniquely positioned to complement U.S. strengths and meet robust American demand.
Canada brings abundant reserves and expanding processing and battery manufacturing capacity; Mexico brings a deep mining tradition, significant reserves, and competitive production costs. Together they account for 34% of U.S. critical mineral imports and are the leading suppliers of 31 minerals where U.S. import-reliance exceeds 50%. Canada and Mexico help the U.S. meet demand while offering a more secure, reliable mineral market.
Sources: USGS; Selected Tariff Codes sourced from USGS Appendices for “Methodology and Technical Input for the 2025 U.S. List of Critical Minerals—Assessing the Potential Effects of Mineral Commodity Supply Chain Disruptions on the U.S. Economy”; Global Trade Tracker for trade data (1/2025-1/2026). *Excludes critical minerals for which the U.S. is a net exporter: beryllium, boron, and metallurgical coal, and those not included in the annex: uranium.
To understand the stakes, just look at natural graphite:
The United States is 100 percent import-reliant on this critical battery input, and roughly one-quarter of U.S. graphite imports come from Canada and Mexico. Canada holds the world’s 10th-largest graphite reserves, while Mexico also has an established graphite industry and significant reserves. North American graphite supplies are already helping meet demand and will become increasingly important as manufacturers seek more secure sources of supply.
Source: USGS Import Reliance Dashboard
The annual review process can provide an opportunity to create more secure and robust North American supply chains. As conversations continue, the Council maintains four priorities to guide future review cycles:
- Improve supply chain transparency and traceability to identify vulnerabilities, close loopholes, and counter market manipulation.
- Expand North American mining, processing, and manufacturing capacity to reduce dependence on concentrated foreign supply chains.
- Enhance regional competitiveness through coordinated trade measures, strategic reserves, and market-stabilization tools.
- Deepen cooperation with trusted international partners that bring complementary mineral resources, industrial capacity, and investment.
If used effectively, the USMCA can be a strategic platform for advancing North American competitiveness, strengthening supply chain security, and ensuring the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are leaders in the industries that will power the twenty-first-century economy.