Washington: US President Donald Trump announced that a 50% tariff on copper imports will be implemented starting August 1, 2025. This announcement follows a national security assessment received by the administration, which Trump shared through his Truth Social platform.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump highlighted the importance of copper in various sectors, including the manufacturing of semiconductors, aircraft, ships, ammunition, data centers, lithium-ion batteries, radar systems, missile defense systems, and hypersonic weapons. He emphasized the significance of copper as the second most widely used material by the US Department of Defense.

Trump criticized previous leadership, questioning why past administrations allowed the copper industry to decline. He stated that the new tariff would rectify what he described as the Biden Administration's misguided actions, aiming to re-establish a dominant copper industry in the United States.

The announcement of the tariffs on Tuesday led to record highs in copper prices on global markets, reflecting the significant impact of the new policy.