Read an extract from Fastmarkets' strategic guide for procurement professionals, equipping you with modern risk management techniques to protect operations and adapt swiftly to uncertainty.

The Supreme Court is examining whether former President Trump exceeded his authority by imposing IEEPA tariffs during a national emergency, a case that could redefine the limits of presidential power and influence global trade dynamics.

Canada has officially designated select minerals - including graphite, scandium, and rare earths - as national security priorities under the country's Defence Production Act, providing guaranteed buyers for some domestic producers and signalling a move closer to government-backed price floors.

The US tungsten supply chain is entering a period of transformation as defense-related funding, new domestic projects, and global trade restrictions reshape market dynamics. The growing focus on national security and critical minerals is driving fresh momentum in US tungsten production.

Europe is facing a potential green aluminium deficit as production halts in Iceland and Mozambique threaten regional supply. Market analysts warn that the resulting shortage of low-carbon aluminium could reshape trade flows and drive higher premiums through 2026.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its southern neighbor Zambia are betting on winning more benefits from their copper endowment by directly trading the metal themselves while output and demand for copper surge,

Teck Resources exceeded expectations for Red Dog zinc concentrates shipments from Alaska amid trade challenges with China, while the company projected steady output for 2025 before gradual declines as the mine nears the end of its life.

Rising energy costs and policy decisions are shaping the future of US aluminium smelting. Domestic production, investment and competitiveness depend on low-cost power, tariff impacts and the transition to renewable and nuclear energy sources.

Freeport’s 2026 copper concentrate contracts introduce a higher floor-cap pricing structure that redefines industry benchmarks. The negotiations highlight broader shifts in global copper supply, smelting economics and pricing frameworks.

Brazil faces growing pressure to strengthen its steel import safeguards as global trade imbalances and new EU measures reshape export and import dynamics. Rising inflows from Asia threaten domestic mills, exposing weaknesses in Brazil’s trade defenses.