Canada, other copper suppliers push back against possible Trump tariffs – National [Video]

Three top copper suppliers to the United States told President Donald Trump’s administration that imports of the metal do not threaten U.S. security interests, as Canada, Chile and Peru aim to fend off potential tariffs on the metal needed for electric vehicles and myriad industrial uses.

Trump ordered a probe into possible duties in February under the Section 232 national security provision of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the same U.S. law he used in his first term to impose 25% global tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The three countries pushed back on the investigation in letters submitted in recent weeks to the U.S. Commerce Department that are now publicly available on a U.S. federal website.

Together the nations supply 94% of U.S. imports of refined copper and copper alloys, according to data from information provider Trade Data Monitor (TDM). They are led by Chile, the world’s top producer that accounts for 70% of such imports, followed by Canada …