Trump announces 50% tariff on copper, starting Aug 1

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US President Donald Trump imposed higher tariffs on copper imports based on grounds of national security.

PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump announced on July 9 a new 50 per cent tariff on copper, effective Aug 1, in a bid to promote domestic development of an industry critical to defence, electronics and automobiles.

The move marks the latest in a string of sectoral tariffs Mr Trump has placed on industries such as steel and aluminium that economists warn will drive up costs for American consumers.

The US president signalled on July 8 that he was imposing fresh tariffs on copper, sending US Comex copper futures to record highs.

The White House ordered a

Section 232 investigation into copper imports in February,

Mr Trump said on July 9 that he received a robust national security assessment, which concluded that tariffs were necessary to protect US production of a commodity that is critical across an array of industries.

Copper is necessary for Semiconductors, Aircraft, Ships, Ammunition, Data Centres, Lithium-ion Batteries, Radar Systems, Missile Defence Systems, and even, Hypersonic Weapons, of which we are building many, Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The US depends on imports for nearly half of its refined copper needs, and brought in 810,000 metric tons in 2024, according to the US Geological Survey.

Countries set to be most affected by the tariff are Chile, Canada and Mexico, which were the top suppliers