Trump’s 50 Percent Tariffs on Copper Take Effect Aug. 1; Canada’s Mining Sector Largely Spared

Sections of copper tubing pictured at Cancoil, manufacturer of commercial refrigeration products, during a press conference in Kingston, Ont., April 3, 2025. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to impose universal 50 percent tariffs on imports of some copper products starting Aug. 1.

The proclamation signed July 30 imposes a 50 percent tariff on imports of semi-finished copper products, including copper pipes, wires, rods, sheets, and tubes, as well as copper-intensive derivative products, such as pipe fittings, cables, connectors, and electrical components, according to a fact sheet published by the White House.