Washington (Reuters) – US President Donald Trump announced 50% customs duties on copper imports on Wednesday, declaring on social networks that they would come into force on August 1.
“I am announcing customs duties of 50% on copper from August 1, 2025 after receiving a reliable national security assessment,” wrote Donald Trump on his Truth Social network.
Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he would set up customs duties on copper imports to the United States, an announcement that surprised the markets.
The tenant of the White House estimated that previous administrations were responsible for the decline in American copper industry, explaining that the metal necessary for semiconductors, planes, ships, electric vehicle batteries and certain military equipment.
“America will again develop a dominant copper industry,” he wrote.
The announcement comes a few hours after Donald Trump said Washington would impose customs duties from August 1 from the United States from Brazil from August 1.
Donald Trump, who also expressed his support for former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, accused earlier this year for an attempted coup following his electoral defeat in October 2022, transmitted a letter to the Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva to inform him of his decision.
He said in the document that these customs rights of 50% were distinct from the customs taxes imposed specifically on certain sectors.
Lula then declared in a press release that any unilateral measure aimed at increasing customs duties would be the subject of an answer in accordance with Brazilian legislation.
(Kanishka Singh and Jarrett Renshaw; Camille Raynaud)
Copyright © 2025 Thomson Reuters
I have over 8 years of experience working in the news industry. I have worked as a reporter, editor, and now managing editor at 247 News Agency. I am responsible for the day-to-day operations of the news website and overseeing all of the content that is published. I also write a column for the website, covering mostly market news.
