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Chile, Canada, and Peru Oppose Potential U.S. Tariffs on Copper Imports
29 Apr 2025
Chile, Canada, and Peru Oppose Potential U.S. Tariffs on Copper Imports
Chile, Canada, and Peru - three of the United States' primary copper suppliers - have formally informed the Trump administration that copper imports from their countries do not pose a threat to U.S. national security and should not be subject to potential tariffs.
Copper is a critical raw material used extensively in construction, transportation, and electronics. The U.S. relies on imports to meet roughly half of its annual copper demand.
In February, President Trump invoked Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 - a national security provision previously used to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum - to initiate an investigation into whether tariffs should also be levied on copper imports.
In response, the three countries submitted official letters to the U.S. Department of Commerce opposing the investigation. These letters have been made publicly available on a U.S. federal website.
According to data, Chile, Canada, and Peru collectively supply 94% of the United States' imports of refined copper and copper alloys - with Chile accounting for 70%, Canada 17%, and Peru 7%. All three countries have free trade agreements in place with the U.S.
In a letter dated March 31, Chile's ambassador to the U.S. emphasized that copper imports from Chile contribute to the security of U.S. supply chains and pose no risk to national security.
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