Montana Delegation Seeks 50% Tariffs on Russian Palladium Imports

Montana's GOP federal delegation, including U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and U.S. Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing, has urged President Donald Trump to impose a 50% tariff on all imports of Russian palladium to protect the domestic mining industry. They argue that Russia is engaging in market manipulation and dumping, selling palladium below market prices to undermine U.S. producers, including the Sibanye-Stillwater mine near Columbus, Montana, which produces more palladium and platinum than any other mine in the country. The delegation insists that imposing tariffs would help save American jobs, re-establish a strong supply chain, and address national security concerns related to dependence on Russian-controlled palladium. Sibanye-Stillwater and the United Steelworkers Union have filed a formal petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission to investigate and potentially impose tariffs on Russian palladium imports. The company has cited financial strain and layoffs of hundreds of workers in Montana as consequences of the price drops caused by Russian imports, which they claim are subsidized and dumped on the U.S. market to gain monopoly control. The investigation by U.S. authorities is ongoing, and any tariffs could take months to be implemented if deemed necessary.