Move marks the first time a US government agency has included copper on one of its official “critical” lists, following the examples of the European Union, Japan, India, Canada, and China. 

The Wa region is estimated to have accounted for over 70% of Myanmar's tin production in 2022.

The partners spent years mired in a tussle over development of the Oyu Tolgoi mine which is the country's biggest foreign investment.

Despite the personnel moves, there aren’t yet signs of permanent retrenchment among hedge funds in metals.

Apart from Asia and Oceania, all other regions outside China recorded increasing levels of activity.

China sources over half of its import needs in tin concentrate from Myanmar.

The foreign ministry would agree on a UK-Zambia Green Growth Compact, aimed at generating £2.5 billion pounds of British private sector investment.