On July 30, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation imposing tariffs of 50 percent on copper and its derivatives. The tariff was effective as of 12:01 am eastern daylight time on August 1, 2025.
April 2, 2026 Presidential Proclamation
New! Effective April 6, 2026, tariffs on copper and their derivative products are changing as below:
- A flat 50 percent tariff will be imposed on the full value of articles made entirely or almost entirely of copper. Tariffs will no longer be imposed on just the metal content of goods also containing non-metal content.
- A flat 25 percent tariff will be imposed on the full value of derivative articles substantially made of copper.
- A 15 percent tariff will be imposed through 2027 on certain metal-intensive industrial equipment and electrical grid equipment.
- Products made abroad but containing at least 95 percent U.S. smelted and cast copper will be subject to a 10 percent tariff.
- Products made of 15 percent or less by weight of copper (except those classifiable in HTSUS Chapters 72, 73, 74, or 76) will no longer be subject to Section 232 metals tariffs.
Goods listed as articles or derivatives of more than one of these metals will only be subject to one of the tariff rates specified above (i.e., no tariff stacking).
ST&R offers a three-pronged approach for avoiding, mitigating, and/or recovering these and other tariffs. For more information on which of these strategies might be most effective for your business, please contact ST&R.
Section 232 Investigation
These tariffs result from a Section 232 investigation initiated on February 25, 2025. The investigation assessed the national security risks related to imported copper in all its forms, including raw mined copper, copper concentrates, refined copper, copper alloys, scrap copper, and derivative products. The Secretary of Commerce concluded the investigation on June 30, 2025, by transmitting a report with recommendations to the President.
Official Documents
- CSMS #68253075 - GUIDANCE: Section 232 Duties on Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper (April 3, 2026)
- Presidential Proclamation: Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel and Copper Into The United States (April 2, 2026)
- Presidential Proclamation: Adjusting the Imports of Copper Into the United States (July 30, 2025)
- Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Takes Action to Address the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper (July 30, 2025)
- Federal Register: Notice of Request for Public Comments on Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Copper (March 13, 2025)
- Federal Register: Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Copper (March 13, 2025)
- Federal Register: Addressing the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper (February 28, 2025)
- Executive Order: Addressing the Threat to National Security From Imports of Copper (February 25, 2025)
- Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses the Threat to National Security From Imports of Copper (February 25, 2025)