The Commerce Department will investigate imposing tariffs on global copper imports to the U.S., White House officials said Tuesday, the first step toward likely levying duties on the metal. Commerce will open the investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act,

The world’s top commodity traders are rushing to ship copper to the US from as far afield as Asia as Donald Trump’s threat of import tariffs on the metal creates a huge opportunity for profit.

"American industries depend on copper, and it should be made in America, no exemptions, no exceptions," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.

President Donald Trump opened yet another front on Tuesday in his assault on global trade norms, ordering a probe into potential new tariffs on copper imports to rebuild U.S. production of a metal critical to electric vehicles,

US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation of copper imports in what is a first step toward potential tariffs on the metal. Administration officials said the White House wanted to find ways to boost US production of copper,

The White House suggested Tuesday there is a strong case for copper import protections because the metal is an essential component of military hardware.

Tariffs, if they are imposed, could boost U.S. production of a valuable resource but also raise costs for automakers, construction companies and others.

The U.S. mined about 1.1 million tons of copper in 2024, which is less than the demand in a year. Some of that copper is refined overseas.

An executive order calls for boosting the domestic industry by investigating the national security implications of imports and weighing tariffs.