President Donald Trump pushes tariffs on copper imports, targeting enactment within weeks, insiders reveal. He ordered the Commerce Department in February 2025 to probe if foreign copper threatens national security, setting a 270-day deadline.
Now, officials expect a decision much sooner, shaking markets worldwide. Trump eyes a 25% tariff on all copper imports to boost U.S. production, vital for wiring, pipes, and defense tech.
The U.S. mines 850,000 tons yearly but uses 1.6 million, relying on Chile, Canada, and Mexico for the rest. Prices in New York hit a record $5.3740 per pound on March 26, 2025, up 3.1%, later settling at $5.2815.
Meanwhile, London’s benchmark fell 2.2% to $9,893 per ton, widening the gap to over $1,700. Traders scramble to ship copper to the U.S., chasing premiums, leaving China, the top consumer, short.
Analyst Li Yaoyao warns timing matters—tariffs could land before more metal arrives. This rush differs from Trump’s slower steel and aluminum tariffs, which took ten months in 2018.
Trump’s Fast-Track Copper Tariffs Spark Global Market Frenzy. (Photo Internet reproduction)
Adviser Peter Navarro says new Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick works at “Trump speed” to deliver results fast. Last week’s emergency mining rules aim to grow local supply, though new plants take years.
Higher costs loom for U.S. makers of cars, homes, and tech, risking inflation. Chile, Canada, and Mexico face export hits, while China braces for scarcity. Experts predict copper could reach $12,000 per ton if tariffs stick, up from $10,000 now.
The White House stays silent on timing, but markets watch closely. Trump’s bold move aims to secure U.S. metals, yet it stirs global trade tensions anew.
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