Although the administration has presented the measure as a response to China's growing control over global copper production, the countries likely to be most affected will be Chile, Canada, and Mexico, the main suppliers of refined copper and copper-related products to the United States.
US President Donald Trump has ordered his government to explore possible tariffs on copper imports, marking another significant step in his administration's current trade strategy.
The executive order, signed on Tuesday (February 25), instructs the Department of Commerce to investigate whether imported copper poses a risk to national security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The decision has already sparked a strong reaction in the global copper market, widening price differentials for the red metal and prompting traders to begin rushing shipments to the US.
According to the Globe and Mail, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said the move is designed to curb the expansion of China's copper sector while addressing vulnerabilities in the US supply chain. He emphasized the need to restore copper mining, smelting, and refining in the country, citing military and technological applications.
Despite Trump's prolonged pressure to balance the trade balance, the US currently has a surplus in copper trade. In 2024, the country exported $11.3 billion worth of copper and imported $9.6 billion, according to census bureau data.
US officials argue that changes in supply and demand forecasts create a risk to national security.
Trump has made extensive use of tariffs as part of his trade policies, and previously eliminated exemptions from the 2018 tariffs on steel and aluminum. More recently, he has threatened neighboring countries (Canada and Mexico) with 25 percent tariffs on all imports. These could take effect next week, although plans have changed several times.