Copper anodes. Image from Glencore.
Chile, Canada and Peru – three of the largest copper suppliers to the United States – have told President Donald Trump’s administration that imports of the metal from their countries do not threaten US security interests and should not face potential tariffs.
The comments by the three countries come during an escalating tariff war between the United States and nearly every trading partner on which it relies. Copper is used in construction, transportation, electronics and many other industries. The United States imports roughly half of its copper needs each year.
Trump in February ordered a probe into possible copper duties under the Section 232 national security provision of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the same US law he used in his first term to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Chile, Canada and Peru pushed back on the investigation in letters…
