Sign Up

Trump's Copper Tariffs Might Come Sooner Rather Than Later, Insiders Warn

U.S. tariffs on copper imports could arrive within weeks. In February, President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Commerce Department to conduct an investigation, giving this executive department a nine-month deadline.

Per a Bloomberg report, the investigation is seen as "little more than a formality.” An announcement is likely to come well ahead of the November deadline.

The proposed tariffs, which could reach as high as 25%, would shift the global copper market. The US is a major copper consumer, needing between 1.7 and 1.9 million metric tons annually. Yet, it produces less than half of that, relying on Chile, Canada, and Peru for 90% of its imports.

Rising copper costs would boost domestic producers like Freeport McMoRan (NYSE:FCX). They could also be a catalyst for resolving the standstill in Arizona. Recall how Native American ...