Global manufacturing executives are begging for clarity on Donald Trump’s tariff policy before a 50 per cent levy is imposed on copper imports, as their stockpiles diminish and the clock ticks on existing contracts.
The US president has vowed to impose the higher tariff on the metal from August 1, matching levels already in place on all imports of steel and aluminium. But it remains unclear whether the levy will be applied to all copper products, stoking anxiety across industries.
Companies’ deepening concerns over copper come as they are already grappling with the higher costs of Trump’s escalating trade war, with US sales of products from cars and trucks to construction equipment hit by policy uncertainty.