Sibanye-Stillwater and the United Steelworkers Union are calling for duties on Russian palladium, arguing the tariffs are needed because Russian imports are being dumped onto the U.S. market to the disadvantage of U.S. operations and workers.

The company said a formal petition it filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission aims to ensure the sustainability of its U.S. operations because unfair price drops have threatened its financial viability.

Sibanye-Stillwater operates mines in Montana, and the state’s congressional delegation called this month on U.S. President Donald Trump to “immediately impose a 50 percent tariff on imports of unwrought palladium from Russia.”

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“Russia currently dominates global palladium production and has exploited this position to undercut American producers,” wrote the lawmakers. “By flooding the U.S. market with underpriced palladium — bolstered by heavy state subsidies, lax environmental regulations, and government-controlled mining rights — Russia is attempting to wipe out domestic competition and secure monopoly control of a mineral critical to both our defense and energy future.

“The result has been catastrophic for Montana workers.”

The August 21 letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines and U.S. Representatives Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke, all Montana Republicans.

The letter followed the July 30 filing of a petition by Sibanye-Stillwater and the union alleging illegal dumping of unprocessed palladium with the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission.

A notice in the federal register said the company and workers had grounds to file their complaint given initial evidence of negative impacts on the industry, and the complaint is under investigation.

Nearly one year ago, the mining company announced it planned to lay off 700 employees in Montana partly due to a dive in palladium prices.

At the time, the state Department of Labor and Industry said those jobs made up 13 percent of all payroll jobs in Stillwater and Sweet Grass counties and 20 percent of those counties’ total wages.

A Montana representative of the Steelworkers union could not be reached for comment for this story.

State Senator Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, said he believes palladium mined in Montana is better quality than Russian palladium, but quality aside, he believes the president’s goal with tariffs is to protect American workers.

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“If we’re going to have tariffs, let’s have tariffs on palladium,” Mandeville said. “Let’s protect American workers, Montana workers, especially in this critical industry.”

The complaint could result in tariffs, but a news release from Sibanye-Stillwater said a final decision is likely in 13 months.

In their letter, Montana’s elected leaders said Montana is proud to be home to Sibanye-Stillwater’s operations, “the only primary source of palladium and platinum in the United States,” and they called for immediate action.

“These metals are not only critical to our national defense and energy sectors, but their domestic production supports thousands of American workers and entire communities in our state,” the letter said.

But Russia is trying to undercut American interests, the politicians said.

“Prices have collapsed by more than half, leading to steep production cuts, hundreds of high-paying mining jobs lost, and the real threat of total mine closure,” the letter said.

In March 2025, the Stillwater County News reported the mine’s financial documents showed it had profitability challenges but also had undergone restructuring and was pursuing new business strategies.

The story said roughly 1,050 employees remained after the layoffs, and it appeared the company’s “Montana presence remains strategically important, even as production levels adjust to market realities.”

Sheehy was the lead signatory of the letter, and his office did not respond to a question about whether it had received a response to the letter from the White House. The Daily Montanan sought comment from the White House, which did not provide a response.

A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to an email for comment in time for this story.

In their letter, however, Sheehy and the delegation said America can still take action to be independent of Russian-controlled palladium, “especially at a time of growing global instability.”

“If we act now, we can save what remains of our domestic industry, bring back hundreds of high-paying mining jobs, and re-establish a strong supply chain in America,” the letter said.

A Sibanye-Stillwater spokesperson earlier told the Daily Montanan an average annual salary was $110,00, and workers received “significant” benefits.

In a statement, Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman called for fairness for the industry.

“Obtaining relief from dumped and subsidized Russian imports will give Sibanye-Stillwater, its employees, and the entire U.S. PGM (platinum group metals) industry an opportunity to compete on a more level playing field,” Froneman said.