Overview

• A July 30 presidential proclamation enacted a 50% ad valorem tariff on semi-finished copper products and copper-intensive derivatives starting August 1, with raw ores and refined materials exempt.
• An executive order issued the same day will eliminate the $800 de minimis duty exemption for non-postal low-value imports as of August 29, reshaping e-commerce and small-shipment trade flows.
• The Commerce Department is tasked to submit a report by June 30, 2026 on domestic copper markets and to recommend phased universal tariffs on refined copper—15% in 2027 and 30% in 2028.
• U.S. copper refining capacity has fallen by more than 50% since the late 1990s, driving a downstream trade deficit to $19.4 billion in 2024 and heightening supply-chain and national security concerns.
• Businesses and trade partners are preparing for expanded reciprocal duties, complex compliance rules and potential WTO disputes as the administration deepens its economic security tariff strategy.