Nevada Governor Calls for Removal of Lithium Tariffs to Boost Local Industry
CARSON CITY, NV – Governor Joe Lombardo is urging the Trump administration to reconsider tariffs on lithium, emphasizing their detrimental effects on Nevada’s burgeoning lithium industry. In a letter sent earlier this week, Lombardo commended the president’s initiatives to enhance domestic manufacturing but voiced concerns over how these tariffs are stifling innovation and growth in the state.
Nevada, home to North America’s largest lithium deposits, stands at a pivotal moment in industrial evolution, Lombardo noted. He highlighted that the state’s lithium sector is still developing, lacking the domestic technology necessary for refining lithium to manufacturing standards while adhering to environmental regulations. Currently, manufacturing-grade lithium is predominantly imported from China.
Lombardo expressed that these tariffs are significantly harming U.S. manufacturing sectors reliant on lithium, with some companies resorting to exporting lithium to Canada and Mexico for processing, returning the refined product to the U.S., thereby jeopardizing American jobs.
The governor emphasized Nevada’s bipartisan efforts to establish the state as a leader in lithium production, envisioning a "lithium loop" that manages every stage of lithium battery production locally. Supporting this endeavor, last year, the federal government granted $21 million to the University of Nevada, Reno, to propel this vision forward.
The state currently hosts the nation’s only lithium mine, Silver Peak, alongside two others with ongoing construction. Lombardo warned that U.S. companies, including those in Nevada, cannot absorb the costs of the imposed tariffs, making them increasingly vulnerable in the global marketplace.
For further information, contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com.
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