International Trade and Investment Agreements and Sustainable Critical Minerals Supply

This report examines the role of trade and investment agreements in the supply of critical minerals, analyzing over 100 agreements and MOUs with a focus on Indonesia, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It highlights a shift toward incorporating ESG provisions in new treaties and emphasizes the need for practical implementation of MOUs to balance the interests of importing and exporting nations while supporting sustainable resource governance.

• Trade and investment agreements are evolving to include environmental, social, and governance (ESG) provisions, marking a departure from older treaty models. This shift occurs as nations prioritize decarbonization, supply chain diversification, and the geopolitics of critical minerals.
• Mineral-exporting countries can use their resources as leverage in negotiations to obtain concessions and align policies with their own goals. Sustainable resource governance and economic growth depend on the reform of investment treaties and the integration of ESG standards.
• While Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) are viewed as a positive step toward balancing the interests of importers and exporters, their effectiveness depends on the creation of practical implementation plans to balance investor protections with equitable access to minerals.

APA

Verma,, I. B. G. M. H. N. O. T. (2025). International Trade and Investment Agreements and Sustainable Critical Minerals Supply. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/trade-investment-agreements-critical-minerals

Chicago

Verma,, Ieva Baršauskaitė,Julia Gubler,Tom Moerenhout,Suzy H. Nikièma,Josef Ostřanský,Alice Tipping,Rupal. International Trade and Investment Agreements and Sustainable Critical Minerals Supply. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/trade-investment-agreements-critical-minerals.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Verma, |first1=Ieva Baršauskaitė,Julia Gubler,Tom Moerenhout,Suzy H. Nikièma,Josef Ostřanský,Alice Tipping,Rupal |title=International Trade and Investment Agreements and Sustainable Critical Minerals Supply |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=7 April 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/trade-investment-agreements-critical-minerals |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{verma2025international, author = {Verma,, Ieva Baršauskaitė,Julia Gubler,Tom Moerenhout,Suzy H. Nikièma,Josef Ostřanský,Alice Tipping,Rupal}, title = {{International Trade and Investment Agreements and Sustainable Critical Minerals Supply}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/trade-investment-agreements-critical-minerals}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }