Critical Minerals in North America: Recap of the Second Critical Minerals Mission to Washington, D.C.

Building on the momentum of our 2023 Critical Minerals Mission to Washington, D.C., and 2024 Mission to Denver, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce proudly returned to the U.S. capital on April 28–29. This year’s high-level delegation of 40 senior Canadian business leaders engaged at a pivotal moment in the Canada-U.S. relationship, reinforcing Canada’s essential role in strengthening North American energy, economic and national security.

Strategically timed to deepen engagement with the incoming U.S. administration and key government and industry stakeholders, the two-day mission featured productive meetings with public and private sector leaders from the White House, the U.S. State Department, the Departments of Energy and Defense, EXIM Bank, and Congressional and Senatorial offices, and more. We also engaged with organizations like SAFE, the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and many others.

These conversations delivered a consistent message: The U.S. administration is placing significant strategic emphasis on critical minerals and views Canada as a vital partner in building a resilient, secure and sustainable North American supply chain.

We are inspired by the Canadian business leaders who recognize the urgency of this moment and are ready to lead. Their commitment to advancing cross-border cooperation is essential to securing the resources our economies need.

Breakfast Reception at the Canadian Embassy

The program began with a breakfast reception at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Opening remarks were delivered by Jay Allen, Economic Minister at the Embassy of Canada to the United States, and Matthew Holmes, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Timothy Puko, Director of Commodities at Eurasia Group, followed with a presentation that laid the groundwork for the day’s discussions and panels.

Fireside Chat| Strengthening Canada-U.S. Collaboration on Critical Minerals 

This panel examined how strategic partnerships between Canada and the United States can unlock mutual value across the critical minerals supply chain — from upstream exploration to downstream processing and manufacturing. With global demand for critical minerals rapidly increasing, the two countries have a historic opportunity to strengthen cross-border collaboration, secure supply chains, enhance economic resilience and reduce reliance on adversarial sources. The discussion was moderated by Robert (RJ) Johnston, Executive Director at the Columbia Center for Global Energy Policy, and featured Scott Woodard, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources, who spoke on behalf of the U.S. government.

Panel | The Future of North American Economic Security

As global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, their economic potential for North America has never been more apparent. This panel explored how the United States and Canada can leverage critical minerals to drive economic growth, create jobs, and build resilient supply chains — while also addressing challenges such as market volatility and evolving trade dynamics. Moderated by Alden Greenhouse, Vice President of Critical & Strategic Minerals at Agnico Eagle Mines, the discussion featured Gracelin Baskaran, Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Sarah Whitten, Senior Vice President at EXIM.

Legislative Dialogues | U.S. Congressional Staff Session and U.S. Senate Staff Session

These sessions were dedicated to hearing directly from Congressional and Senate staff on current U.S. efforts related to critical minerals and rare earth elements and their intersection with trade and national security. The discussion also explored how Canadian companies can engage with, benefit from and collaborate on these strategic initiatives.

The Congressional session was moderated by Mary Anne Carter, Principal and Partner at Earnscliffe Strategies, the panel featured Carly Sincavitch, Policy Advisor in the Office of Congressman Eric Swalwell; Shawn Rusterholz, Energy and Natural Resources Policy Director in the Office of Congressman Pete Stauber; and Clara Tibbetts, PhD, Senior Legislative Assistant in the Office of Congressman Paul Tonko. The session provided valuable perspectives from both House Democrats and Republicans, highlighting bipartisan interest in advancing critical minerals policy.

The Senate session was moderated by Photinie Koutsavlis, Vice President of Economic Affairs and Climate Change at the Mining Association of Canada, and featured Chris Avila, Energy and Environment Advisor in the Office of Senator Chris Coons.         

(A representative from Senator Mike Lee’s office was scheduled to participate but was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.)

Cocktail Reception with Government and Industry Leaders

Following the first day of programming, delegates attended a reception at Smoke & Mirrors that brought together senior industry leaders from Canada and the United States, along with key government stakeholders.

Panel | A New Era of Trade and Minerals Diplomacy

As global demand for critical minerals intensifies, trade and diplomacy are adapting to address resource security and rising geopolitical tensions — including the legacy of Trump-era tariffs and increasing protectionism. This panel explored how countries, particularly Canada and the United States, are reshaping international partnerships and trade agreements to secure critical mineral supply chains, counter strategic rivals and promote sustainability. In this evolving landscape, critical minerals are not only economic drivers but also essential to national security. Moderated by Ruth Demeter-Hayes, Senior Director of Policy at the Global Energy Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the discussion featured Abigail Hunter, Executive Director of the Center for Critical Minerals Strategy at SAFE, and the Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar, Partner at Wiley Rein LLP.

Presentation | Between Two Hills: Canada-U.S. Perspectives in Ottawa and Washington

The day after the Canadian federal election, we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Christopher Sands, Adjunct Lecturer and Director of the Hopkins Center for Canadian Studies, and former Director of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute. Dr. Sands shared his insights on the future of Canada-U.S. relations, offering perspectives on what to expect from the evolving dynamic between Prime Minister Carney and President Trump.

Presentation | CSIS | Mining for Defense 

Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow with the Americas Program at CSIS, presented key insights from the recently republished report Mining for Defense: Unlocking the Potential for U.S.–Canada Collaboration on Critical Minerals. The report highlights the national security risks posed by China’s near monopoly over critical minerals essential to both consumer goods and defense manufacturing. As a trusted ally and existing supplier of several key metals, Canada is well positioned to serve as a reliable alternative, strengthening North American economic and national security. Enhanced U.S.-Canada cooperation in this sector also offers a constructive path forward amid ongoing trade and security tensions. Read the full report.

Panel | From Mine to Mission: Critical Minerals for Defense 

Following the CSIS presentation, Marcella Munro, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Teck Resources, moderated a panel discussion featuring Lorenzo Williams, Senior Director of Strategy and Policy at the National Defense Industrial Association; Zach Boykin, Critical Minerals & Materials Portfolio Lead in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD(IBP)); and Joshua Stinson, Staff Director for International Economics at the National Security Council, White House. The session further explored how strengthening Canada-U.S. collaboration on critical minerals can reduce reliance on adversarial sources, enhance continental defense capabilities and reinforce economic and security ties amid broader geopolitical and trade tensions.

Panel | Scaling Mineral Circularity for North American Resilience

Our final panel explored how mineral circularity can complement — not compete with — traditional mining in strengthening North America’s economic and environmental resilience. Moderated by Alex Tanner, Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs at Cyclic Materials, the discussion featured Tina Jeffress, Group Manager of Energy and Sustainability at Panasonic; Emma Bishop, Vice President – Venn Strategies and Battery Materials & Technology Coalition (BMTC); Kristen Hildreth, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy at ReMA; and Helena Khazdozian, Senior Technology Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Office.

Capstone Meeting and Wrap Up | Embassy of Canada

Our mission concluded with a debriefing session at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., facilitated by John Barnwell, Natural Resources Officer. During the meeting, we identified key takeaways to relay to the Government of Canada and relevant departments.

Canada stands at a crossroads in the race to secure a leadership role in the global critical minerals supply chain. As the new U.S. administration moves decisively to strengthen its strategic partnerships, Canada is recognized as a key ally — but recognition alone is not enough. We must act now to align our policies, streamline regulatory processes and scale our capabilities. Otherwise, we risk being left behind or left out as other nations step in to fill the gap. The window of opportunity won’t stay open for long.

The 2025 Mission is a testament to what can be achieved when nations work toward common goals. It is a powerful reminder that international collaboration is not only possible but also imperative. Together, we can meet today’s challenges, unlock the potential of our natural resource advantage, and shape a future defined by shared security, innovation and economic growth.

Special thanks also go out to our sponsors: Vale Base Metals, as well as USCIB, Johns Hopkins University and the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., for their invaluable support and collaboration.