US trade policy: Trump has possible tariffs on copper imports examined

US Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick is to examine, on the instructions of President Donald Trump , whether measures are necessary to protect the domestic copper industry. Trump signed a corresponding order in the White House. As a result of the investigation, tariffs on imports of the raw material into the USA could be imposed at a later date. "American industries depend on copper, and it should be produced in America without exception," said a statement by Lutnick . "It It's time for copper to come home."

Trump's advisor for trade and industry, Peter Navarro , sharply criticized China in particular in this context. The People's Republic has "long used industrial overcapacity and dumping as an economic weapon to dominate global markets" - including in the copper sector, said Navarro.

The raw material is essential for the electronics and construction industries and also plays an important role for the US military and high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI). The countries most affected by new US copper tariffs The countries that would be affected are Chile, Canada and Mexico.

According to senior government officials, this is an open-ended investigation. Specific information on the level of any tariffs or their timing has not been disclosed. "It would be premature to speculate on the level of possible tariffs when the outcome of the investigation is still open," said one official.

Since moving into the White House for a second term in January, Trump has issued a whole series of tariff regulations. While a new 10 percent levy on all imports from China is already in place, tariffs of 25 percent on goods from Canada and Mexico are set to come into force next week. Further tariffs on steel, aluminum and motor vehicles will follow shortly thereafter or are already in the pipeline.