The ESG Report: EV Battery Regulation and Compliance in The US & EU-Part 1, Foreign Entities of Concern

March 19, 2024

Tom Fox hosts the ESG Report podcast. In this special 3-part series, I examine EV battery regulation in the US and EU.

Part 1 considers US Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOCs) for EV battery production.

Pamela Fierst-Walsh is a prominent voice in critical mineral supply chain issues and a recognized leader in policy development, ESG issues, and international affairs. From 2017 to 2021, she drove the reorientation of U.S. diplomacy toward prioritizing mineral supply chains as the U.S. State Department’s Senior Advisor for Critical Minerals.

She coordinated the U.S. The Departments of Commerce, Defense, and Energy worked together to support National Security and Economic Council agendas. In June 2021, she played a key role in shaping the Biden Administration’s 100-day Supply Chain Review on Building Resilient American Supply Chains to improve U.S. competitiveness for clean energy and technological advancement, which set the foundation for greater U.S. clean energy investment under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and other acts. She regularly advises senior U.S. officials, private sector actors, and foreign counterparts. In 2023, she joined the Board of IMPACT, a non-profit organization focused on empowering communities through greater governance of the natural resources they rely upon. She is the CEO of PFW Advisory, LLC, and is based in Washington, DC.

Pamela’s perspective on the Department of Energy and Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) definitions is centered around the vital role these definitions play in unlocking the $6 billion funding available for domestic battery material processing, manufacturing, and recycling. She firmly believes that by understanding and complying with these definitions, businesses can tap into the incentives provided by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Her extensive experience in supply chain management, where she has seen the value of comprehending the entire chain process, from material extraction to manufacturing and recycling, has shaped her perspective. Pamela encourages businesses to engage with the Department of Energy to ensure compliance and ultimately contribute to advancing the American economy.