So it's (an economic) war then.
March 04, 2025 | Read Online
The M&E Dispatch // 050
So it's (an economic) war then.
{{OPEN_TRACKING_PIXEL}}
Hello Everyone,
For decades, Canadian industry operated under a fundamental assumption: that our biggest trading partner, the United States, was reliable. We built supply chains around it. We sent our best and brightest south to work with it. We aligned policy after policy to keep goods, labour, and capital flowing across the border with minimal friction.
That assumption is now dead.
With the latest round of tariffs—a brutal 25% blanket duty on nearly everything Canada ships south—Washington has signalled, loud and clear, that the rules of the game have changed. The U.S. isn’t just a tough negotiator anymore; it’s a hostile trading partner. And with President Musk Trump outright stating that he prefers economic force over military force to ‘absorb’ Canada, it’s clear that this isn’t about steel, cars, or softwood lumber. It’s about control.
That means it’s time for a serious, urgent pivot. The mining and energy industries, in particular, must wake up to the reality that continuing to rely on the U.S. for parts, labour, and capital is a long-term vulnerability. We need to build alternative supply chains—fast.
The Risks Are No Longer Hypothetical
For years, industry analysts warned about the dangers of over-reliance on a single trading partner, but it was easy to brush off those concerns when the relationship was running smoothly. Not anymore. The 2025 tariffs don’t just disrupt a few sectors—they hit everything.
- Manufacturing & Equipment: Canadian mining operations depend heavily on U.S.-made parts, from heavy machinery components to specialty tools. With these now subject to massive tariffs, operating costs will spike.
- Labour Mobility: Cross-border work permits, always a bureaucratic nightmare, are likely to get worse under an economically aggressive U.S. administration. Canadian professionals working in the States may face new hurdles.
- Capital & Investment: U.S. investors—who have historically been major backers of Canadian mining and energy ventures—may rethink their positions as Canada finds itself locked in an economic showdown.
For those in the mining sector, this isn’t just a theoretical exercise. We’ve already seen supply chain disruptions throw major projects into limbo, from delayed equipment deliveries to skyrocketing costs on imported inputs. Companies that don’t adapt now will find themselves at the mercy of an unpredictable Washington, caught in an ever-escalating cycle of tariffs and retaliations.
So, if not the U.S., then where? Fortunately, Canada still has options—good ones. But we need to move quickly.
- Europe – The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the EU is an underutilized advantage. European firms have both the technology and capital to replace U.S. partnerships in mining and energy services.
- Asia-Pacific – Japan and South Korea are high-tech, resource-hungry economies that value political stability. Canada should aggressively court them for mining and energy partnerships.
- Latin America – A region with growing mining demand and an openness to Canadian expertise. Countries like Chile and Peru are resource-rich and looking for reliable investment partners.
- Domestic Manufacturing – This may be the most difficult but the most rewarding: we need to bring more mining and energy equipment production back to Canada. The U.S. is betting we can’t survive without them. Let’s prove them wrong.
I don’t know any other way to phrase this, it’s an Economic War.
The U.S. has made its stance clear: Canada is no longer a priority partner—it’s a target. For the mining and energy industries, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. Those who see the writing on the wall and start diversifying now will come out ahead. Those who continue to assume Washington will return to being a friendly neighbour will learn the hard way.
It’s time to stop waiting for things to get better. They won’t. It’s time to pivot.
// The Dirt
Patriot Battery Metals Uncovers Large Cesium Zone at Shaakichiuwaanaan
A deep dive into Patriot’s drill core dataset has revealed multiple zones of cesium enrichment exceeding 1% Cs2O, closely tied to the high-grade lithium Vega Zone.
Read more
Northern Superior Drills High-Grade Gold at Philibert Project
Drill results include 3.59 g/t Au over 7.7m and 2.89 g/t Au over 10.6m, with a second drill rig now mobilized for further exploration.
Read more
Newport Exploration Announces $748K Royalty Payment
Newport received a quarterly royalty payment from Beach Energy, totaling AUD$748,151 gross, reinforcing its strong revenue stream.
Read more
Midland and Rio Tinto Resume Lithium Drilling at Galinée
Midland Exploration, in partnership with Rio Tinto, has kicked off a second phase of lithium drilling near the Adina deposit in Quebec.
Read more
Canadian North Resources Expands Bioleaching Programs
The company is advancing its metallurgical work with low-carbon footprint bioleaching, showing nickel and cobalt recoveries nearing 98%.
Read more
Robex Resources Finalizes Mining Agreement with Mali Government
Robex has secured a convention granting the Malian government a 20% stake in Nampala SA, aligning with the country’s updated mining code.
Read more
Sirios Confirms High-Grade Gold at Cheechoo Project
Drilling at the Cheechoo gold project in Quebec has returned strong results, including 13.5 g/t Au over 14.6m, reinforcing the company’s new exploration strategy.
Read more
TNR Gold Updates on Los Azules Copper Project in Argentina
McEwen Mining has requested inclusion in Argentina’s large investment incentive program for the Los Azules copper project, where TNR holds an NSR royalty.
Read more
Radisson Mining Receives UL ECOLOGO Certification
Radisson has been awarded the UL ECOLOGO® Certification for responsible mineral exploration, reinforcing its ESG commitment.
Read more
Northern Graphite Marks 35 Years at Lac des Iles Mine
The company celebrates three and a half decades of graphite production with a special report on North America’s only operational graphite mine.
Read more
Silver Mountain Grants Stock Options to Key Personnel
The company has announced a stock option grant under its omnibus equity incentive plan, supporting its long-term growth strategy.
Read more
Magna Mining Kicks Off Diamond Drilling at Levack Mine
Drilling at Levack and McCreedy West is underway, with initial results showing strong copper and nickel grades.
Read more
Magna Mining Finalizes Acquisition of Producing Copper Mine in Sudbury
The company has completed the purchase of a producing copper mine from KGHM International, strengthening its base metal portfolio.
Read more
Abasca Resources Confirms Strong Graphite Intersections at Loki Zone
Drilling at the Loki Flake Graphite Zone returned assays of up to 9.09% Cg over 60m, highlighting a promising graphite resource.
Read more
Focus Graphite Secures Financing Through Private Placement
The company has closed the first tranche of its private placement, ensuring continued progress on its advanced graphite projects.
Read more
Bayhorse Silver Extends Breccia Zone and Reports Assay Results
Bayhorse Silver’s latest drilling expands the breccia zone significantly, with early assays indicating anomalous copper-zinc mineralization.
Read more
Avrupa Minerals Completes 2024 Drilling and Regains Sesmarias Cu-Zn VMS Project
The company has fully recovered its Sesmarias Cu-Zn VMS Project, following a successful drill campaign in Portugal’s Pyrite Belt.
Read more
American Pacific Files Updated Technical Report for Palmer Project
The updated NI 43-101 report details exploration and development plans for the Palmer Copper-Zinc VMS Project in Southeast Alaska.
Read more
Adyton Resources Identifies Significant Copper at Feni Island
New exploration at Feni Island confirms strong copper mineralization alongside existing gold deposits, adding further upside to the project.
Read more
// The Heart
On the weekend, we had a home stand of games against an Idaho Academy Hockey team. At the end of it, we took a group photo and the kids exchanged some tearful hugs.
These kids have been competing in the same league (our Canadian League) since many of them were 6 yrs old. They know each other, they play Xbox/PSN with each other and have group chats.
These games were the last games of the season against each other and the kids already know that they likely won't ever play against each other again, at least in minor hockey.
Canadians are cancelling trips to the south, no longer buying anything American and no more cross border activities.
These kids, they've lost a lifetime of good will and camaraderie that will be hard fought to ever regain.
My heart breaks for them.
- Lee
Hit reply with your thoughts on this whole tariff mess.
Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here
© 2025 Mining & Energy
228 Park Ave S, #29976, New York, New York 10003, United States