Trump directs government to consider possible tariffs on copper
Source: AP
Updated 4:51 PM EST, February 25, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday directed the government to consider possible tariffs on copper, the latest move by the White House to tax a wide array of imports and reshape global trade. “It will have a big impact,” said Trump before signing the executive order to study copper imports.
On a call with reporters, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro portrayed the move as an effort to stop China’s build out of its copper sector and to address a broader national security vulnerability. There is also a desire to restore the domestic mining, smelting and refining of copper given potential military and technological needs.
Trump has long said his trade goals are to ensure that imports are equal in size to exports, so that the United States doesn’t run trade deficits. But America runs a surplus with copper and the administration sees a national security risk from the forecasts of supply and demand.
Last year, the United States exported $11.3 billion of copper and imported $9.6 billion worth of copper, according to the Census Bureau. The Federal Reserve’s index of copper, nickel, lead and zinc mining peaked in 1998 and has since fallen by more than 30%.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-copper-import-tax-china-d000272626e0d20c82272de1f159f623
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this is probably one of the worst. And yes - central air compressors and the plumbing in new housing construction, will be dismantled post haste! 