- President Trump confirms a 50% tariff on copper imports, expected by the end of July.
- U.S. aims to protect domestic industry after national security review.
- Copper prices soar, sparking mixed reactions from global suppliers and manufacturers.
- New trade wave includes tariffs on pharmaceuticals, steel, and electronics.
- UK and global trade partners are on edge, awaiting exemptions or deals.
President Donald Trump has formally announced a massive 50% import tariff on copper, marking a new phase in his administration’s protectionist trade agenda. Speaking during a televised cabinet meeting, Trump bluntly declared:
“Today we’re doing copper… We’re going to make it 50%.”
This move follows a national security probe into copper imports, echoing past investigations into sectors like steel, lumber, and pharmaceuticals. The new tariff could take effect before August, pending final authorisation.
The immediate impact was felt across markets as U.S. copper prices hit record highs. The country relies on copper imports mainly from Chile and Canada, and part of some East African countries like Kenya and Uganda, to meet nearly half of its annual demand. The metal is vital for construction, defence, and electric vehicles, making the tariff decision especially consequential.
While U.S. copper producers welcomed the move, downstream manufacturers voiced alarm, fearing higher production costs.
Chile’s state-owned producer, Codelco, expressed concern, with leadership questioning whether all countries would be affected equally.
“We have to see whether this will apply to all countries or only some,” one official said.
Other nations also await clarity on whether they’ll face similar duties or win exemptions through bilateral negotiations.
The United Kingdom’s steel industry, already facing a 25% duty, could see tariffs double to 50% by July 9 unless a stalled trade agreement with Washington is finalised. Though a limited export deal was reached in May, it hasn’t been formally enacted, leaving UK exporters anxious.
The copper tariff is just part of a broader trade package Trump plans to launch starting August 1. This includes: 25%–40% tariffs on a wide range of goods from over 14 countries. Letters were sent to major partners like Japan and South Korea, threatening levies unless new deals are reached. A 200% tariff on pharmaceutical imports, with a year-long adjustment period promised to the industry.
Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute called the new copper duty “more of the same,” warning it could inflate costs for U.S. industries that rely on copper rather than solve trade imbalances.
Trump’s message is unmistakable: America First, again this time with steeper tariffs, fewer compromises, and global partners racing to adjust. The copper tariff sets a clear tone for the months ahead: more walls, fewer bridges in global trade.
