The Trump administration has unveiled plans to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports, prompting a sharp reaction in U.S. markets.
President Donald Trump signed a new order on Wednesday, enacting a sweeping 50% tariff on copper imports, marking the latest addition to the list of metals facing hefty import duties under his administration.
By excluding key copper input materials such as ores, concentrates, and cathodes, the newly declared policy represents a notable retreat from Trump’s earlier threats to impose broad tariffs on all overseas copper shipments.
In a proclamation issued by the White House, the administration stated that the new tariff will take effect on Friday and will apply to pipes, tubes, and other semi-finished copper products. It will also cover items in which copper is a key component for manufacturing, such as cables and electrical parts.
In the executive order, Trump asserted that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had determined that the volume and conditions of copper imports entering the U.S. pose a risk to national security.
The Trump administration claims that the new tariffs, which come on top of the existing 50% U.S. duties on steel and aluminum, are intended to strengthen domestic industries and address trade imbalances.
Copper ranks as the third most-used metal after iron and aluminum. Nearly half of the copper used in the U.S. is imported, with the majority coming from Chile, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. However, experts caution that the tariffs could drive up prices on a wide range of products, from construction materials to electronics that rely on copper.
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