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Trump blasts the appeals court that halted Resolution Copper land transfers

The U.S. president Donald Trump blasted on Tuesday the decision of an appeals court to temporarily block federal officials' ability to complete a land transfer required for Rio Tinto to and BHP's Resolution Copper Project in Arizona. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco, has ruled that the transfer - which was scheduled for Tuesday - should be halted while the court weighs a request from San Carlos Apache tribe to block this project due to religious and cultural reasons. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco, ruled Monday that the transfer – which was scheduled for Tuesday – should be halted until the court considers a request by the San Carlos Apache Tribe to block the project due to religious and cultural reasons.

The court's decision was the first in five years that a court had ruled in the Apaches or their allies favor. Resolution is slated to be one of the largest suppliers of metals used in nearly every electronic product. In a post to his Truth Social platform Trump called the court "radical left" and claimed that those opposing the mine were "anti-American and represent other copper-competitive Countries." Trump wrote in his post that it was "sad" that radical left activists could do this and impact the lives of many people. We can't allow this to continue in the U.S.A.

Trump didn't outline any specific actions he would take to influence the court but stated that "our country, quite simply needs Copper -- and NOW!"

The court stated that it "takes no position on the merits of the Apache's argument" and will expedite the review. The court has asked that filings be submitted before Oct. 14 but it has not scheduled a date for a hearing. Trump appointed 10 of the 29 members of the appeals court.

San Carlos Apache representatives were not available for immediate comment.

Rio, who owns 55% to BHP's 45%, refused to comment on Trumps post. However, it said that they were "confident" that the court would ultimately confirm the land transfer.

BHP did not respond to a request for comment immediately.

Trump's announcement comes less than one month after he

Copper tariffs were imposed

The mining industry expected a much higher levy on copper concentrate, but it was only imposed on wire and pipes. This will allow other nations to import copper without worrying about tariffs.

History

Construction of the mine would create a crater, which would swallow up a sacred site for Apaches. This has led to strong opposition by all but one of Alaska's 22 Native American Tribes as well as from the National Congress of American Indians.

The mine was approved by the Congress in 2014 and the then-President Barack Obama after it had been added at the very last minute to the a

Must-pass Military Funding Bill

With the condition that a report on environmental issues be published.

Underground mines - what are they?

Trump has been able to get his first term approved

Before successor

Joe Biden reversed his

- would provide more than a quarter the U.S. demand for copper, and be an important part of Trump’s plan to

Boost U.S. Mining

Apache Stronghold is a nonprofit group made up of conservationists and some Apache. They asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a block on the transfer.

Denied in May

The tribe also made a similar request to federal courts. The tribe failed in district court last week and appealed on the weekend.

Rio, whose largest shareholder is a Chinese aluminium company, said

It plans to keep the entire copper production of Resolution in the U.S.

Should the mine be approved. The company owns one of two U.S. smelters for copper. (Reporting and additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, editing by Leslie Adler & Franklin Paul; Reporting by Ernest Scheyder)

(source: Reuters)