White House Curbs Copper Imports to Bolster U.S. Security
Published Date: 8/5/2025
Presidential Document
Summary
The U.S. government found that too much copper is being imported, which hurts American copper makers and could weaken our national security. To fix this, new limits and rules on copper imports will start soon, helping protect jobs and keep our defense strong. These changes affect companies that bring in copper and could impact prices and supply starting in late 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 1 mixed.
Immediate 50% Tariff on Semi-Finished Copper
All imports of semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products listed in the Annex will be subject to a 50 percent tariff starting for goods entered or withdrawn for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 1, 2025. This tariff is in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to those imports.
Possible Phased Refined Copper Tariffs (2027–2028)
The Secretary will report by June 30, 2026, to inform the President whether to impose a phased universal import duty on refined copper of 15 percent starting January 1, 2027, and 30 percent starting January 1, 2028, as recommended in the June 30, 2025 report. The President may determine whether those duties are warranted based on that update.
Domestic Sales Requirement and Scrap Controls
The proclamation implements the Secretary's recommendations to establish domestic sales requirements, including a domestic sales requirement for copper input materials starting at 25 percent in 2027 and a 25 percent domestic sales requirement for high-quality copper scrap, and to impose export controls for high-quality copper scrap. The Secretary is directed to take appropriate action to implement these requirements.
No Duty Drawback Allowed for These Duties
No drawback shall be available with respect to the duties imposed pursuant to this proclamation, meaning importers of the covered copper articles cannot claim duty drawback for these proclaimed duties.
Stricter Content Declarations and Severe Penalties
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue authoritative guidance requiring strict compliance with declarations of copper content for imported articles, and importers who submit underreported declarations may face significant monetary penalties, loss of import privileges, and criminal liability consistent with U.S. law.
Foreign Trade Zone Admission and Treatment Rules
Any product subject to the duties of this proclamation that is admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone on or after the effective date must be admitted as 'privileged foreign' status and will be subject upon entry for consumption to any ad valorem rates of duty related to its HTSUS classification.
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