Policy and Legal

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth District decision enabling Resolution Copper’s congressionally mandated land exchange to move forward—an outcome the NAM helped drive through years of sustained advocacy and strategic legal action, including an amicus brief filed with the court.

“The completion of Resolution Copper’s land exchange is a monumental milestone for our nation and the manufacturing industry’s efforts to ensure U.S. supply chains have reliable access to the raw materials that power our economy. We appreciate the leadership of the Trump administration, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Land Management and Congress for getting this extremely important land exchange across the finish line.

“The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. The U.S. imports about 35% of its copper. At full capacity, Resolution Copper—the third-largest known copper deposit in the world—could supply a quarter of all U.S. copper demand and as much as 40 billion pounds of copper over 40 years, securing access to critical minerals that are essential to our nation’s economic strength and national security. This would also reduce our reliance on adversarial nations for minerals and boost energy and critical national defense systems. The land exchange proves what is possible when policy, process and partnership align. It’s the kind of outcome manufacturers need to see more often: one that protects key landscapes, unlocks critical resources and advances America’s economic and national security.”

Background:

Copper is a critical material for manufacturing—serving as a core input in industrial production and machinery, as well as energy infrastructure that powers factories, data centers and advanced technologies. As manufacturers work to outcompete China and achieve American energy dominance, securing reliable, domestic sources of critical minerals like copper has become increasingly urgent. The NAM’s recent policy framework underscores this need, calling for a comprehensive critical minerals strategy.

At the same time, projects like Resolution Copper illustrate the challenges posed by the current permitting landscape. For more than a decade, the project has faced complex and uncertain federal review processes—reflecting broader systemic issues. According to recent NAM analysis, America’s broken permitting system costs manufacturers at least $7.9 billion each year, highlighting the need for bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform to strengthen America’s economic and national security.

-NAM- 

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.90 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org. 

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