US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a proclamation to impose a 50 per cent universal tariff on semi-finished and derivative copper imports starting from August 1. The move comes after tariffs on other metals, namely steel and aluminium, were increased from 25 per cent to 50 per cent earlier in June.
The imposition of a 50 per cent duty on copper tubes, pipes, wires, rods, and sheets – to be levied separately from reciprocal tariffs – follows an investigation into copper imports on national security grounds Trump had ordered in February. The 50 per cent tariff will not cover copper input materials like ores, concentrates, and cathodes, which are also exempt from reciprocal tariffs, the White House said in a statement.
This is significant for India, which exported $2 billion worth of copper and copper products globally in 2024-25, with the US accounting for $360 million, or 17 per cent, of that total. Copper exports to the US include other articles of copper ($125 million), tubes and pipes ($63 million), plates and sheets ($48 million), and bars ($28 million).
Trade data showed that the US is India’s third-largest copper export market, after Saudi Arabia (26 per cent) and China (18 per cent). However, given copper’s status as a critical mineral and its extensive use across infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing, India’s domestic industry is likely to absorb any decline in US demand resulting from the 50 per cent tariff beginning tomorrow.
The investigation on copper imports carried out by the US Department of Commerce concluded that “foreign competitors’ predatory practices and excessive environmental regulations have undercut the American copper industry,” according to the White House.
“Copper is essential to the manufacturing foundation on which U.S. national and economic security depend. Copper is a necessary input in a range of defense systems, including aircraft, ground vehicles, ships, submarines, missiles, and ammunition. It is the Department of Defense’s second-most used material, and it plays a central role in the broader U.S. industrial base,” it said.
Trump’s proclamation also introduces measures to boost domestic availability of copper inputs and high-quality scrap by curbing exports through domestic-use rules.
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In addition to $360 million worth of copper exports, India exported steel articles worth over $3 billion and aluminium goods worth $860 million to the US in 2024-25.
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