The M&E Dispatch // 087

Hello Everyone,

Well, that escalated.

In the span of two news cycles, we went from “soft signals” to full-blown trade volley:

• Copper imports face a 50% tariff starting August 1, following a Section 232 investigation aimed at “national security” (Reuters).

• Canada is hit with a 35% tariff on most goods, including heavy machinery, parts, and components crucial to mining and energy, also effective August 1 (Reuters).

No transition period. No clarity. Just cold, hard percentage points aimed squarely at the cross-border arteries that keep this industry spinning.

Copper (“Orange Gold”) Projects & Clean Tech

Copper’s always been essential, but now it’s behaving like a precious metal. Between record-high pricing, tight global supply, and new tariffs, it’s getting the kind of attention usually reserved for gold or oil.

Why “Orange Gold”?
Because you just know Trump’s going to start calling it that. Copper’s no longer just a base metal, it’s the lifeblood of electrification, data centres, and just about everything we’re told is the future. With a 50% tariff slapped on it, it’s not just a raw material anymore, it’s a political prop. Might as well beat him to the punch.

🔗 Business Insider: Copper prices surge on tariff threat
🔗 FT: U.S. copper price hits record

Procurement & Fabrication Pain

Canadian-sourced compressors, sensors, valves, weldments, and even fertilizer, just jumped 35% at the border. For EPCs, mining OEMs, and clean‑power integrators, it’s going to hit fast and early.

🔗 Reuters: Trump slaps 35% tariffs on Canadian goods

Global Sourcing Disruption

Brazil’s getting tariffed too. That means fewer backup options for alloys, chemicals, components, and off-book sourcing. You can almost hear the phones ringing in procurement offices.

What to Watch Next 60 Days

It’s déjà–vu with a twist, every few years, we wake up to another tariff play. Like 50 First Dates, we hope it’s different, but the morning-after hangover is always the same.

Suppliers & Providers, This Is Your Moment

If your company provides equipment, components, or contract services for mining, energy, or infrastructure, visibility matters right now.

Buy ads, tell stories, guest post on sites… get your name out there. It’s a land grab.

// The Dirt

Giyani Metals Secures US$10M Strategic Investment
OCIM Metals & Mining invests US$10M in Giyani to support development of the K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana.
https://www.giyanimetals.com/giyani-secures-us10m-investment/

Atlas Lithium Secures Offtake for Lithium Concentrate
The company signed an offtake term sheet with Mitsui & Co. for the sale of battery-grade spodumene concentrate from its Neves Project in Brazil.
https://www.atlas-lithium.com/news-media/press-releases/atlas-lithium-signs-offtake-term-sheet-with-mitsui

Defense Metals Reports 2.21% TREO Over 221m
Drilling at the Wicheeda REE Project continues to return high-grade rare earth intercepts, advancing pre-feasibility milestones.
https://www.defensemetals.com/news/defense-metals-drills-2-21-treo-over-221-metres-at-wicheeda/

Foran Mining Awards Contract for McIlvenna Bay Site Access Road
This marks another step toward construction for the copper-zinc development project in Saskatchewan.
https://www.foranmining.com/news/foran-awards-mcilvenna-access-road-contract/

Osisko Development Intersects 6.37 g/t Gold Over 38.4m
Step-out drilling at the Cariboo Gold Project in BC continues to define new zones of high-grade mineralization.
https://osiskodev.com/news/osisko-development-reports-drill-results-from-cariboo-gold-project/

Bradda Head Lithium Hits 729 ppm Li Over 183m
Core results from the Basin Project in Arizona confirm broad zones of lithium mineralization at shallow depths.
https://www.braddaheadltd.com/news/bradda-head-lithium-announces-drill-results-from-basin-project/

Surge Copper Intersects 0.30% CuEq Over 442m at Ootsa
New results from the West Seel deposit suggest potential for continued resource growth at this BC-based project.
https://www.surgecopper.com/news/surge-copper-drills-442m-of-030-cueq-at-ootsa/

Adriatic Metals Starts Ore Processing at Vares Silver Project
Commissioning activities are underway in Bosnia and Herzegovina as Adriatic transitions into production mode.
https://www.adriaticmetals.com/news/adriatic-metals-commences-ore-processing-at-vares-silver-project/

Canada Nickel Advances Carbon Storage Testing
The company reports successful in-field trials of its In-Process Tailings Carbonation, part of its Crawford Project development in Ontario.
https://www.canadanickel.com/news-releases/canada-nickel-company-announces-successful-in-field-demonstration-of-carbon-storage-process/

Snowline Gold Drills 5.2 g/t Gold Over 156.2m
Latest results from the Valley target on the Rogue Project in Yukon show significant scale and grade continuity.
https://www.snowlinegold.com/news/snowline-gold-drills-52-gt-au-over-1562-m-at-valley/

So here I sit, watching a shipment I expected to dispatch from Canada slowly make its way north… from upstate New York.

The seller, listed as Canadian on SidelineSwap, had signed with a U.S. team and brought the pads with him to school. Fair enough, these were his game set, and he planned to replace them once they sold. What he forgot, of course, was that there’s an international border between “here” and “there.”

Now I’m tracking a pair of goalie pads somewhere between Jamaica, NY and my doorstep, wondering what kind of surprise tariffs might show up with them.

And that’s the thing, nothing about this trade war is going to make life easier for anyone. Not for suppliers. Not for buyers. Not even for a dad just trying to get his kid’s gear across the line.

Garage sale weekend, last of the purges before we move. If you’re in the hunt for some mid century Danish Furniture, let me know.

Have a great weekend all.

- Lee