【SMM Aluminum Flash News】UN Selects 6 Nations for Support in Critical Mineral Development Amid Global Energy Transition

[SMM Aluminum Express News] The European Parliament has backed a broader expansion of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to downstream aluminum and steel products from 2028. Parliament adopted its negotiating position on September 15 by 464 votes to 50, with 159 abstentions, supporting coverage beyond the European Commission’s original proposal for 180 additional downstream products, including aluminum-intensive products such as wire, fasteners, springs and certain finished goods. For aluminum, Parliament also proposes lowering the CBAM exemption threshold from 50 tonnes to just 5 tonnes, meaning smaller-volume importers could become subject to CBAM requirements. It also supports stronger anti-circumvention rules, including the use of emissions default values based on the actual country of origin where authorities suspect attempts to avoid CBAM obligations. The changes are not final yet, with negotiations with the EU Council still required. If adopted, the expansion would increase carbon-reporting and potentially carbon-cost exposure for exporters of downstream aluminum products into the EU, extending CBAM further beyond primary and semi-finished aluminum.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Mexico and the US have postponed their fourth round of bilateral trade negotiations from late September to potentially October, while technical discussions continue. Mexico’s Deputy Economy Minister for Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez said the two sides are working toward an interim trade agreement covering nearly 90 issues. For aluminum, Mexico is seeking relief from US Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles. No agreement on a lower aluminum tariff rate has yet been reached, meaning Mexican aluminum exports remain exposed to the current US tariff measures while negotiations continue. An October negotiating round could provide the next indication of whether tariff relief is achievable.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Oklahoma Primary Aluminum says its proposed Inola smelter could contribute around US$49 billion cumulatively to Oklahoma’s economy through 2060, according to a new economic-impact study conducted by Regional Economic Models (REMI). The planned more than US$4 billion, 750,000 t/y primary aluminum smelter, a joint venture between Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum, is projected to add an average US$1.45 billion/year to Oklahoma GDP and support around 7,000 jobs annually, with employment peaking above 10,600 in 2029. PR Newswire The developers said the project would create more than 1,000 permanent direct jobs and around 4,000 temporary construction jobs, while separate regional infrastructure investment is estimated at US$400-500 million for port, wastewater and electricity infrastructure. The 441-acre smelter at the Tulsa Port of Inola would use EGA’s EX reduction-cell technology and, at 750,000 t/y, would more than double current US primary aluminum production capacity.