Donald Trump Initiates New Investigation into Copper Import Tariffs for the U.S.

On February 25, 2025, President Donald Trump initiated a new trade front, ordering a new investigation into the possibility of imposing tariffs on copper imports, according to Reuters. The move aims to revive the U.S. copper industry, which plays a critical role in electric vehicles, military hardware, semiconductors, and a wide range of consumer goods. This decision follows concerns that China is moving to dominate the global copper market, undermining American production.

Trump signed an order directing U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to launch a national security investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the same law that Trump previously used to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. The goal is to assess the national security risks posed by reliance on foreign copper, particularly from China, which Trump’s advisers claim is using state subsidies and economic influence to dominate global copper production in the same manner it has taken over the steel and aluminum sectors.

The countries most affected by the potential tariffs would likely include Chile, Canada, and Mexico, which were the top suppliers of refined copper and copper products in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Commerce Secretary Lutnick stressed that U.S. industries and national defense rely heavily on copper. He argued that the U.S. should be manufacturing copper domestically without exceptions or exemptions. “It’s time for copper to come home,” Lutnick added.

The White House official indicated that the investigation would cover a range of copper-related imports, including raw copper, copper concentrates, alloys, scrap copper, and derivative products. The Department of Energy has highlighted copper’s importance as a critical material due to the rising demand for solar energy technologies and global electrification, as well as its significant role in U.S. weapons platforms.

Given the increasing demand for electric vehicles and energy-intensive technologies like artificial intelligence, there is a looming copper shortage in the U.S. The White House official stressed that, without trade protections, the U.S. would struggle to develop the necessary smelting and refining infrastructure.

This action marks the latest step in Trump’s strategy to fortify the U.S. economy with tariff barriers, aiming to revitalize the nation’s shrinking manufacturing sector and overhaul long-standing trade relations.

On Monday, Trump reaffirmed that the planned 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada were “on time and on schedule,” with the implementation set for March 4th. This came despite both countries’ efforts to avert the tariffs by securing their borders and curbing the flow of fentanyl, a deadly opioid, into the U.S.