Trump imposes 50% tariffs on copper imports - US announces "punitive" measures against Brazilian goods
President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 50% tariff on copper imports into the US. He also took action against Brazil, imposing 50% taxes on the Latin American country's products.
United States President Donald Trump announced a new 50% tariff on copper imports into the US and a 50% tax on goods from Brazil. Both measures will take effect on August 1. "I am announcing a 50% tariff on copper, effective August 1, 2025, following a national security assessment," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
The announcement came hours after he also informed Brazil that its "reciprocal" tariff on August 1 would increase to 50% from 10%, a significantly high level for a country with balanced trading relations with the US.
Trump first mentioned the copper tariff during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, adding to tensions with companies seeking to expand imports before the decision takes effect. The US president blamed past administrations for the decline of the US copper industry, saying the metal was needed for semiconductors, aircraft, electric vehicle batteries and military equipment.
Trump's order for the tariffs on Brazil came in a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, expressing anger over the trial he called a "witch hunt" against former right-wing leader Jair Bolsonaro.
Trump also criticized what he called Brazil's crackdown on free elections, freedom of speech and "illegal censorship orders on social media platforms." Lula responded to Trump's letter by saying that any unilateral move to increase tariffs would be met with a response in accordance with Brazilian law.
Brazil is the US's 15th largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade of $92 billion in 2024 and a US trade surplus of $7.4 billion, according to US data.
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