Trump to Impose New 50 Percent Tariff on Copper Imports

President Donald Trump announced on July 9 that the United States will impose 50 percent duties on imports of copper into the country. “I am announcing a 50% TARIFF on Copper, effective August 1, 2025, after receiving a robust NATIONAL SECURITY ASSESSMENT,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Why did our foolish (and SLEEPY!) ‘Leaders’ decimate this important Industry?” he wrote, citing copper’s importance in manufacturing semiconductors, aircraft, ships, ammunition, data centers, lithium-ion batteries, radar systems, missile defense systems, and hypersonic weapons. “America will, once again, build a DOMINANT Copper Industry.” Trump had previously teased the tariffs on July 8. Copper Prices Surge Copper prices have surged around 9.91 percent in the past five days, jumping from $5.02 per ounce to $5.62 per ounce. These higher prices will likely weigh on various copper-intensive sectors, including construction and technology....