Trump Proposes 50% Tariff on Copper Imports for National Security

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on copper imports during a Cabinet meeting on July 8, 2025, citing national security needs. The move follows a Section 232 investigation launched earlier in the year.

Under a Section 232 investigation, Trump cited the strategic importance of copper for sectors like electronics and infrastructure as a rationale for the tariff. U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo additionally noted expanded trade dialogues, expressing intent to send 15 to 20 trade letters imminently.

Trump’s Copper Tariff Sparks Global Metals Market Volatility

Today we’re doing copper … I believed the rate will be 50%. — Donald Trump, Former and Current U.S. President source

Price volatility is anticipated in global metals markets. U.S. copper producers like Freeport-McMoRan could see increased demand, possibly shifting market dynamics. Historically, similar tariffs have faced opposition, highlighting potential import costs over domestic benefits.

Market reactions to the proposal have been mixed. While U.S.-based producers may benefit, international entities like Rio Tinto may encounter challenges. Notably, no primary-sourced comments have been located from major stakeholders within the cryptocurrency or commodity-tokenization platforms regarding this development.

Historical Context, Price Data, and Expert Analysis

Did you know? Trump’s 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs drew major international backlash, with several legal challenges threatening their continuity.

Bitcoin is currently priced at $109,100.96 with a market cap nearing $2.17 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap. The cryptocurrency maintains market dominance at 64.28%, recording a 32.24% rise over 90 days. Trading volume stands at $43.52 billion, up 64.67% in the last 24 hours.

Insights from Coincu research suggest that if copper prices increase, similar to previous tariff actions, commodity-related digital assets may become more volatile. The regulatory environment could shift, impacting both traditional and digital trade sectors, affecting synthetic commodity DeFi platforms.