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Mexico Enters U.S.-Led 60-Day Talks on Critical Minerals

Officials say the drive seeks stable access to key inputs Mexico lacks while keeping domestic reserves under exclusive national control.

Overview

  • Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico accepted a U.S. invitation to join a multinational working group for a 60-day consultation toward a potential multilateral agreement.
  • An initial discussion with partners including Canada, India, South Korea, Japan and the European Union was scheduled for Friday, where Mexico planned to set out its position.
  • Mexico published a targeted list of 13 minerals it needs to secure externally: aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, germanium, iridium, lithium, nickel, palladium, platinum, tantalum, titanium and vanadium.
  • President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed that the nation’s mineral reserves and their exploitation are not subject to negotiation and must remain under Mexican sovereignty.
  • Alongside the U.S.-led talks, Mexico is pressing its case in WTO, UN, regional and bilateral forums, citing supply risks as T-MEC’s review approaches; USGS data show Mexico is a major producer of eight critical minerals, including copper, silver and zinc.