A US copper trade group is asking the government to impose tariffs on certain imported products while sparing some feedstocks as part of an ongoing trade investigation.
In a 6 June filing to US trade regulator the US Bureau of Industry and Security, the Copper Development Association recommended that the US impose tariffs on all semi-fabricated copper and copper alloy products, such as plates, sheets, strip, and wire, and requested a tariff exemption for raw material feedstocks, including copper cathodes and scrap copper.
The group seeks the exemptions because it believes tariffs on refined copper cathodes would hurt the domestic semi-fabrication industry and potentially worsen national security risks.
The group also called for a ban on all US copper scrap exports to reduce access to US supplies by China and other countries.
The US imported 1.7mn metric tonnes (t) of copper and its derivatives in 2024 and exported 956,700t of copper scrap, according to customs data. Copper cathode made up the majority of copper imports last year at 903,100t, which predominantly came from the US' free trade partners Chile, Canada, Peru and Mexico.
Copper is currently not considered a critical mineral according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), but in the filing, the association requested copper be added to the newest version of the USGS critical minerals list, which is expected to be published later this year.
Critical minerals are defined as those used to manufacture products considered essential to American economic and national security.
