Columbus, Montana – A new anti-dumping duty imposed by the Trump administration on Russian palladium imports is offering a potential lifeline to workers at the Sibanye-Stillwater mine in Montana, the only primary source of the metal in the United States. The tariff, set at 132.83 percent, is designed to counter what officials describe as Russia’s deliberate effort to flood the global market with palladium, driving down prices and jeopardizing American jobs.
The move comes after a period of significant hardship for the Stillwater mine. In November 2024, the company was forced to lay off 700 workers, a consequence, according to Senator Steve Daines, of inaction regarding Russia’s anti-market behavior. Daines has been a vocal advocate for federal intervention, introducing legislation in both September 2024 and February 2025 aimed at addressing the issue. He has repeatedly urged the Trump administration to take corrective action.
Speaking to the Billings Gazette on Thursday, , Senator Daines hailed the new duty as “some of the best news in Montana” he’d received in some time. “This represents the outcome we were looking for,” he said. “With the news of these duties, it is going to allow us to be competitive again in terms of price, and hopefully that will mean Stillwater is looking at bringing many of these miners back on board.”
The significance of the Stillwater mine extends beyond its economic impact on Montana. Daines emphasized the mine’s importance as a critical link in the nation’s supply chain. “These are some of the best jobs in Montana in terms of pay and benefits, but importantly, this is a critical supply chain for the nation,” he stated. “There’s only three countries in the world that produce palladium. It’s Russia. It’s South Africa, and the great mine we have in Montana.”
Palladium is a crucial component in catalytic converters used in automobiles, and also has applications in electronics, dentistry, and chemical industries. The global supply chain for palladium is therefore strategically important, and the concentration of production in a limited number of countries raises concerns about potential vulnerabilities.
The Department of Commerce investigation that led to the imposition of the tariff found that Russian palladium was being sold at less than fair market value, bolstered by state subsidies. This practice, known as “dumping,” allows Russia to undercut competitors and gain market share, but at the expense of producers in other countries.
Daines’ previous legislative efforts focused on a complete prohibition of imports of palladium, platinum, and other critical minerals from Russia, particularly while the country remains engaged in conflict in Ukraine. While those bills failed to pass, Daines believes the new tariff will achieve a similar effect. “We were looking at pulling out all the stops, both in terms of legislative remedies and an executive remedy, to move as quickly as possible to get those miners back to work,” he explained.
The senator further articulated the broader geopolitical implications of the situation. “The Russians, as they were dumping their palladium, they’re putting Montana miners out of work. And then with America buying this cheap palladium under market value, we were propping up Putin’s war machine in Ukraine. So, this has a double impact. It’s bringing these Montana miners back to work. It’s also a gut punch back at Putin, who is using these palladium dollars to help fund his war against Ukraine.”
The 132.83 percent anti-dumping duty rate will be enforceable upon its publication in the Federal Register. The move signals a continued commitment from the Trump administration to protect American industries from unfair trade practices and to reduce reliance on potentially adversarial nations for critical minerals. The potential for laid-off workers at the Sibanye Stillwater mine to return to work now appears significantly increased, offering a boost to the local economy and reinforcing the strategic importance of domestic palladium production.
The Billings Gazette reported that the investigation revealed the extent of the unfair market practices, leading to the implementation of the tariff. The newspaper’s reporting highlights the direct link between Russian trade practices and job losses in Montana, underscoring the tangible impact of international trade policy on American workers.
