The passage of the Critical Mineral Consistency Act (HR 8446) in the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support (245-155) marked a significant step toward recognizing copper as a critical mineral and underscored the growing consensus on the importance of a robust domestic copper value chain. The bill proposes automatically including all Department of Energy Critical Materials on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Critical Minerals list. If approved by the Senate, the CDA-supported bill would unlock expedited permitting, tax credits, and grants.

After considering the available science, including ICA’s research on copper, the final official publication of the European Commission updating the EU Regulation on Harmonised Classification signs into law updated copper powder classifications, protecting large copper forms and copper cathode’s status as not hazardous to the environment. This decision reduces market barriers for manufacturers and the required operational and transport costs, and regulatory restrictions associated with strict, environmental hazard classifications. The outcome is a testament to ICA’s effective engagement and support of its members.

The German AGS Committee's agreement on a revised safe level for copper in workplace dust, which considered independent research commissioned by ICA, represents a significant victory for worker safety. Occupational exposure limits (OELs) protect employees from potential risks from repeated exposure to substances. In 2014, the EU recommended a value for copper in workplace dust based on limited data available at the time. The value was 100 times lower than existing standards, and even lower in Germany. After engagement from ICA and consideration of ICA-commissioned research on copper smelter workers, the final recommended values of 0.045 mg/m3 (respirable) and 0.200 mg/m3 (inhalable) will continue to ensure strong standards are upheld for worker safety. As Germany is influential in setting OELs at the EU level, and EU OELs are often adopted globally, this decision helps maintain a safe work environment for copper production and use worldwide.

OEM decarbonization targets are driving demand for supply chain carbon emissions data, as more OEMs are basing material selection decisions on carbon footprint. To address this need, ICA's collaborated with the International Wrought Copper Council (IWCC) and CDA to conduct a series of global Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies on key copper and copper alloy products. By providing high-quality life cycle data, including the first-ever quality data on copper semis, as well as wire rod, flat rolled products and rod bar selections, the assessments highlight copper’s sustainability advantages and enable downstream users to make informed material choices based on environmental impacts such as GHG emissions.

ICA’s presentation "The successful international path to enable the use of mining slag" in Chile shared insights into how the EU REACH regulatory framework had been used to demonstrate the safety of copper slags during use, highlighting the potential environmental and economic benefits of slag valorization and use as a competitive, profitable, and sustainable co-product to the Chilean copper industry and Chilean officials. This knowledge-sharing initiative aims to increase utilization of copper slags in Chile, creating new market opportunities and contributing to a more circular economy in the copper industry.

ICA's efforts to promote copper’s role for sustainable development in India to officials and decision makers have led to a number of landmark policy outcomes, including recognition of copper as a critical mineral and the elimination of basic custom duties on copper concentrates and blister imports, creating a level playing field for trade. By providing robust data, uniting the industry with a common agenda, and highlighting copper's strategic importance, ICA has positioned copper as a critical material essential for India’s development. ICA continues to engage on India’s development of a “Copper Industry Roadmap—Vision Document for a Developed India 2047” that will outline a comprehensive strategy for the metal’s full potential.

The U.S. Copper Caucus comprised of 23 members from Congressional districts representing U.S. copper producers and fabricators. Caucus members work together with CDA and its members to advance policy positions and legislation that would be helpful to the domestic copper industry and to support the public’s awareness of the value copper and copper alloys bring to civil society. The Copper Caucus is a powerful political instrument that gives U.S. industry a platform to voice upstream and downstream issues that are critical to ICA and CDA members, and to call on the support of our elected officials in times of need. Read the Copper Caucus Summary.