US firms look to Pakistan for critical mineral supplies

• Smaller mines and larger copper, antimony projects under consideration • US Embassy official says Reko Diq moving forward, but slower than expected • Encourages Pakistan to provide level playing field to American firms • Finance minister, US trade representative review progress on bilateral trade talks ISLAMABAD: Amid a big push from the Trump administration to secure global critical mineral supply chains, US companies are exploring opportunities to take over and develop smaller mines in Pakistan, besides looking at more significant investments in larger projects, potentially in copper and other critical minerals such as antimony. Speaking to journalists at a background briefing, a US…