Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Minneapolis Leaders Push Back as Trump Escalates Rhetoric Against Somali Community 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Peru Moves to Declare State of Emergency at Chile Border as Migrant Tensions Rise 
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping 50% tariff on copper imports in a bid to revitalize America’s copper industry. The decision, unveiled via a social media post on Wednesday, follows through on a threat made earlier this week. Trump sharply criticized former President Joe Biden, claiming his administration weakened the U.S. copper sector.
“Copper is the second most used material by the Department of Defense,” Trump wrote. “This 50% TARIFF will reverse the Biden Administration’s thoughtless behavior. America will, once again, build a DOMINANT Copper Industry.”
The U.S. currently produces just over half of the refined copper it consumes, importing the rest. Top copper suppliers to the U.S. include Chile, Canada, and Peru—countries that have urged the Trump administration to reconsider and exempt them from the steep tariffs.
While China is the world’s largest copper refiner and consumer, the U.S. depends heavily on Latin American imports to meet industrial demand. The tariff move is expected to significantly impact global trade flows and prices.
A significant portion of U.S. copper is mined in Arizona. Industry giants like Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) and Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) dominate the domestic market. Following Trump's announcement, Freeport-McMoRan shares surged, and U.S. copper futures soared to record highs earlier this week amid anticipation of supply tightening.
Analysts believe the tariff could fuel higher prices and drive new investment into American copper production, though it may also provoke retaliation from trade partners. The long-term impact on supply chains and domestic infrastructure projects remains uncertain.
