President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed an executive order instructing the Department of Commerce to investigate potential customs duties on copper imports. During the signing ceremony at the White House, President Donald Trump emphasized the significant impact that the copper-related decree would have. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, present at the signing ceremony, stated that “our large American copper industry, like our steel and aluminum industries, has been decimated by global actors attacking our domestic production.” Lutnick indicated that he would explore the application of possible tariffs to rebuild the copper industry, stating, “When necessary, tariffs could aid in the reconstruction of the American copper industry and strengthen our national defense.”

Trump later stated on his Truth Social account, “I have requested my Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to review copper imports and end unfair trade practices that leave Americans unemployed in order to rebuild our copper industry.” Emphasizing that tariffs would assist in the reconstruction of the American copper industry and enhance US national defense, Trump commented, “American industries are reliant on copper, and copper should be produced in America. No exemptions, no exceptions.” He highlighted that the “America First” policy has created employment opportunities and preserved national security, stating, “It’s time for copper to ‘return home.'”

A statement from the White House indicated that the upcoming investigation would assess potential commercial solutions to address national security risks arising from the increasing dependence on all types of imported copper in the US and to protect domestic industry. The statement mentioned that the investigation’s results would identify vulnerabilities in the copper supply chain and provide recommendations to enhance the resilience of America’s domestic copper industry. Pointing out the significant role copper plays in defense applications, infrastructure, clean energy, electric vehicles, and emerging technologies such as advanced electronics, the statement highlighted that it is the second most used material by the Department of Defense.

The statement noted that despite having extensive copper reserves, America lags behind competitors such as China, which controls over 50% of the global smelting process, in melting and refining capacity. While the United States is not even among the top five countries in copper smelting capacity, the statement drew attention to the fact that America’s dependence on copper imports increased from nearly 0% in 1991 to 45% of consumption by 2024, raising risks to supply chain security.