Exclusive: Trump, Congress move to undo Biden-era ban on mining in northern Minnesota
Source: Reuters
January 8, 2026 4:28 PM EST Updated 11 hours ago
Jan 8 (Reuters) - The Trump administration and U.S. Congress are launching a plan this week to overturn former President Joe Biden's mining ban in northern Minnesota and prevent future administrations from taking similar steps, according to officials and documents reviewed by Reuters.
The move has been in development for much of the past year and involves a complex series of legislative steps that will benefit Antofagasta's (ANTO.L) Twin Metals copper, cobalt and nickel project, one of North America's largest untapped reserves of those critical minerals.
Details of the plan have not previously been reported. It marks a refocus of sorts by Trump on U.S. domestic mining projects, even as his administration continues to angle for access to minerals in Greenland, Ukraine and elsewhere.
The Minnesota plan is almost certain to further escalate tension over where and how to procure minerals crucial for the electrified economy and national defense. Copper, nickel and cobalt are used to build electric vehicles, AI data centers, wind turbines, weaponry and myriad other devices.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-congress-move-undo-biden-era-ban-mining-northern-minnesota-2026-01-08/
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