White House taps Highland Copper in local supply push

The US administration has named Highland Copper (TSX-V: HI) as a contributor to expanding domestic copper supply, highlighting the Canadian miner’s growing strategic relevance.

The recognition follows President Donald Trump’s move last week to adjust national security tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper imports, lowering duties on derivative products, simplifying compliance and addressing under-reporting of import values. 

The White House document highlights Highland alongside Ivanhoe Electric (TSX,NYSEAMERICAN: IE) Rio Tinto (ASX, LON, NYSE: RIO) and Wieland as part of a broader effort to expand US mining, smelting and fabrication capacity.

“I am grateful that the White House recognized Highland Copper as important to the expansion of US domestic copper mining,” Congressman Jack Bergman said. “Highland’s Copperwood project aims to responsibly produce copper in Michigan to help support the American economy and national defence.”

The acknowledgement places Highland’s Copperwood project at the centre of a wider policy shift to secure domestic supplies of critical minerals, as Washington leans on tariffs and financing tools to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen industrial resilience.

Highland is advancing Copperwood toward a construction decision, supported by a 2023 feasibility study outlining an approximately 11-year mine life with annual production of about 64.6 million pounds of copper and 107,000 ounces of silver. The fully permitted project is designed as an underground room-and-pillar operation processing roughly 6,800 tonnes per day. 

The US Export-Import Bank has already signalled support with a $250 million letter of interest, covering a significant portion of the project’s estimated $391 million initial capital cost.