President Trump signed an executive order directing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to investigate whether foreign copper production and imports threaten U.S. economic and national security. This inquiry could lead to new tariffs on copper, essential for manufacturing, construction, and military applications. White House officials emphasized the need for domestic copper production to support national defense, citing unfair trade practices from other countries, particularly China. The investigation, conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, could conclude in 270 days. However, tariffs may raise costs for industries reliant on copper, leading to potential pushback.
On Tuesday, President Trump issued an executive order instructing his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, to initiate an investigation into whether the foreign production and importation of copper into the United States might pose threats to the nation’s economic and national security.
White House officials indicated that based on the inquiry’s findings, new tariffs could potentially be implemented on copper—a material that plays a vital role in manufacturing, construction, and is essential for the U.S. military and advancing technologies like artificial intelligence.
During a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, the White House provided limited information regarding the investigation’s timeline or potential tariff rates, expressing reluctance to make any assumptions about the inquiry’s outcomes.
Peter Navarro, a senior trade and manufacturing adviser, mentioned that Mr. Lutnick would operate under “Trump time,” meaning as swiftly as possible, and deliver the investigation’s findings to the president for potential action.
The proposed tariffs would aim to safeguard the domestic copper industry, which the White House claims is facing challenges due to unfair trade practices from other nations. This industry is vital for constructing ships, aircraft, and tanks.
The Trump administration presented the issue on Tuesday as both an economic and national defense concern, highlighting the necessity of these metals for military operations, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence while suggesting that geopolitical instability could disrupt access to essential supplies.
“Tariffs can help revitalize our American copper industry, if needed, and bolster our national defense,” stated Mr. Lutnick. “American industries rely on copper, and it should be produced domestically—no exemptions, no exceptions.”
“It’s time for copper to return home,” he added.
Similar to the steel and aluminum tariffs President Trump plans to reinstate next month, copper tariffs may increase costs for various industries reliant on the metal, potentially causing backlash from sectors like automakers, electronics, telecommunications manufacturers, and construction companies that use copper for plumbing and roofing.
These tariffs could also lead to additional disputes with countries exporting metal to the U.S., with Chile being the largest foreign supplier, sending approximately $4.63 billion worth of copper to the United States annually, followed by Canada, Peru, Mexico, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
U.S. copper production has declined over the years, with an estimated 1.1 million metric tons mined in 2024—approximately a 20 percent decrease over the past decade, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.
China is also a significant global copper producer but exports relatively little to the U.S. due to existing tariffs. However, White House officials assert that Chinese copper production has contributed to global price decreases, as China actively acquires copper resources worldwide.
During the call with reporters on Tuesday, Mr. Navarro claimed that China has “long exploited industrial overcapacity and dumping as a strategy to dominate global markets” and is systematically undermining competitors from other nations.
“It is now applying that same approach to seize control of the world’s copper markets,” he remarked.
This year, copper prices have risen, driven by anticipated tariffs and sustained resilience in manufacturing activity, as noted earlier this month by analysts at Citigroup. The U.S. consumed roughly $17 billion worth of copper in 2024, importing about 45 percent of that quantity, the analysts reported.
When asked how the president decided to address the copper issue, a Trump administration official on the call remarked that Mr. Trump possesses the foresight to recognize future challenges others may overlook. They referenced a 1988 interview where Mr. Trump discussed trade with Japan, suggesting it foreshadowed his approach to retaliating against foreign governments perceived as “cheating” the United States.
Mr. Trump has indicated a willingness to implement tariffs on various imports, including steel, aluminum, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. Earlier this month, he was close to imposing tariffs on exports from Canada and Mexico, citing insufficient efforts by these countries to curb drug and migrant flows into the U.S. He postponed those tariffs for a month but confirmed this week they would take effect on March 4 as planned.
Additionally, Mr. Trump enacted a 10 percent tariff on all imports from China, prompting retaliatory measures from the Chinese on U.S. exports. He has also proposed a comprehensive reform of U.S. tariff rates, intending to match the tariff rates other countries impose on the United States and address certain trade practices he considers unfair.
The copper inquiry will be conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, enabling the president to impose tariffs on foreign products for national security reasons. By law, the commerce secretary has 270 days to deliver findings from the investigation to the president.
A White House official confirmed that the investigation would cover raw mined copper, refined copper, alloys, scrap, and specific derivative products made from copper.
Rebecca F. Elliott contributed reporting.