President Donald Trump announced on July 9 that the new 50 percent tariff on imports of copper will take effect on Aug. 1.
“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.
He noted copper is needed for manufacturing semiconductors, aircraft, ships, ammunition, data centers, lithium-ion batteries, radar systems, missile defense systems, and hypersonic weapons, and is the second most used material by the Department of Defense.
“America will, once again, build a DOMINANT Copper Industry.”
Trump signaled on July 8 that he would impose tariffs on copper.
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....