White House Probes Copper Imports, Weighs 15% Tariffs as China Controls Over 50% of Smelting
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Jun 24
White House Probes Copper Imports, Weighs 15% Tariffs as China Controls Over 50% of Smelting
1 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Jun 24
Summary
A Section 232 investigation launched in February 2025 is examining whether refined copper imports threaten U.S. security, with the White House now preparing an update on possible trade action.
The review centers on China’s grip over a metal critical to AI servers, power systems, EV batteries and modern weapons, with the White House saying one foreign producer controls more than 50% of global smelting capacity.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recommended last year that the U.S. impose 15% duties on refined copper from the first day of 2027, rising to 30% a year later.
The push to revive domestic copper production highlights a broader U.S.-China contest over strategic supply chains that underpin advanced technology, energy and defense industries.
With a 17-year wait for new mines, can US policy actually outpace surging AI and EV demand?
As the West secures its copper supply, what is the environmental cost of this new mining boom?
US Copper Tariffs Since 2025: Market Disruption, Geopolitical Shifts, and the Challenge of Securing Critical Minerals
Overview
In August 2025, the United States imposed a 50 percent tariff on semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivatives, following a White House announcement amid rising geopolitical tensions and supply chain pressures. This move was part of a broader strategy, including earlier tariffs against China, aimed at strengthening national security and reducing vulnerabilities in critical mineral supply chains. The US government identified mineral processing as a key weakness, driving the decision to use tariffs to encourage domestic production and lessen reliance on foreign processing, especially from strategic competitors.