Tag: Industrial Policy
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Private Investment Halves in 6 Years: Pakistan’s Manufacturing Slump Explained
Overview: A Manufacturing Slowdown with Broad Economic Implications Pakistan’s manufacturing sector, long hailed as the backbone of economic growth and job creation, is facing one of its most significant slowdowns in recent memory. Recent data shows private investment in manufacturing has fallen by about half over the past six years, a decline that threatens not…
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Rare-Earth Win: Trump-Xi Talks Signal Xi’s Strength
Overview: A Rare-Earth Breakthrough in U.S.-China Talks In a series of negotiations that have long hovered between tension and opportunity, President Donald Trump has framed recent discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as signaling a strategic victory on rare-earth minerals. The exchanges come as both nations navigate supply-chain resilience, industrial strategy, and the geopolitical weight…
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Australia’s Tomago Smelter Could Close as Rio Tinto Notes Not Commercially Viable
Overview: Tomago Smelter at a Crossroads Australia’s largest aluminium producer, the Tomago smelter in New South Wales, is facing a pivotal decision as Rio Tinto contemplates ceasing operations when the current electricity supply contract ends. The company has begun a formal consultation process with employees on the potential future of the site, but a final…
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Canada’s Hidden Role in the F-35 Program: Why the Jets Are More Canadian Than They Seem
Introduction: A Fighter Jet Behind the Headlines The F-35 fighter jet is often described as an American icon, a symbol of U.S. air power. Yet beneath the surface lies a deeply Canadian story: a high-tech, global manufacturing network that stretches across provinces and thresholds of sovereignty. For Canada, the F-35 purchase debate isn’t just about…
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Tasmanian Loan Conditions: GFG Alliance Accused of Missing Manganese Smelter Restart Obligation
Background: Liberty Bell Bay and the Tasmanian loan The Tasmanian government approved a $20 million loan to Liberty Bell Bay, the state’s sole manganese alloy smelter, owned by GFG Alliance. The loan was designed to secure a reliable ore supply and help restart production at the Bell Bay facility, safeguarding around 250 local jobs. Liberty…
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Tasmania Warns GFG Alliance: Loan Conditions Not Met as Manganese Smelter Faces Restart Delays
Background: A $20 Million Lifeline for Liberty Bell Bay The Tasmanian government extended a $20 million loan to Liberty Bell Bay, Australia’s only manganese alloy smelter, to secure its ongoing supply of ore and safeguard jobs in the north of the state. The loan, recommended by the Tasmanian Development Board, was designed to support a…
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Gaza Ceasefire Near, Glencore Mt Isa Bailout Moves Ahead, Comey Pleads Not Guilty — Week in Review
Gaza ceasefire in sight as diplomacy intensifies International officials signaled that a Gaza ceasefire is “very close,” with U.S. diplomats stressing progress in talks aimed at reducing violence and restoring humanitarian access. While details remain delicate, observers say a framework for de-escalation could unlock a humanitarian corridor and provide a window for stalled humanitarian aid…
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Markets live updates: ASX set to rise as Wall Street hits fresh records and Fed split on rates
Markets poised for gains as global cues point higher The Australian share market is expected to nudge higher this trading session, tracking fresh records on Wall Street and signals from the Federal Reserve that point to a cautious path on interest rates. Traders are weighing domestic policy debates, a major taxpayer bailout for a Queensland…
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Australia funds Glencore refinery lifeline to keep copper processing running
Background: why funds were needed Glencore’s Mount Isa Copper Smelter in Queensland and the adjacent Townsville Refinery faced a future in care-and-maintenance without government support. After months of negotiations and mounting losses, the company agreed to a multi-year rescue package that would keep the facilities online through 2028. The backing signals a strategic view by…
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Glencore Refinery Rescue: Australian Taxpayers Fund Multi‑Year Lifeline for Mount Isa and Townsville Assets
Overview of the Rescue Package Australia will subsidise Glencore’s copper processing operations in Queensland, providing a multi‑million‑dollar lifeline to keep the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and the adjoining Townsville Refinery running through 2028. The federal and Queensland governments confirmed a $600 million financial bridging package, with the funding split 50:50 between the Commonwealth and the…