Lithium Americas soars on report Trump administration seeking equity stake

Core Insights - U.S.-listed shares of Lithium Americas surged over 70% in premarket trading due to reports of the Trump administration seeking a 10% equity stake in the company, highlighting government interest in critical industries for national security [1][2] Company Developments - The Trump administration is negotiating a $2.26 billion government loan for Lithium Americas' Thacker Pass lithium mine, which is a joint venture with General Motors [2][3] - The Thacker Pass project is expected to become the largest source of lithium in the Western Hemisphere by 2028, potentially surpassing Albemarle's facility [3] - Lithium Americas recently split its operations into North American and Argentine segments to focus on the Thacker Pass project [5] Industry Context - The Thacker Pass project is seen as a strategic move to enhance U.S. production of critical minerals and reduce dependence on China, the largest lithium processor [4] - The Trump administration's interest in equity stakes extends to other sectors, including a stake in chipmaker Intel and mining company MP Materials, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and supply chains [4] - The positive news surrounding Lithium Americas also positively impacted other lithium miners, with Albemarle and Sigma Lithium seeing gains of 5.2% and 5.3%, respectively [6]