White House Delays Decision on Refined Copper Tariffs

The White House has not made a final decision on whether to impose tariffs on refined copper, according to two people familiar with the matter and a White House official, as the administration weighs the benefits of encouraging domestic mining against concerns that higher prices could raise manufacturing costs. The Commerce Department provided President Donald Trump with an update by a June 30 deadline set by the White House, but the contents of that update were not disclosed. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had been tasked with recommending whether a 15% tariff on refined copper should begin on January 1, 2027, rising to 30% in 2028. It was not immediately clear what he recommended. The hesitation comes as the administration is increasingly focused on affordability ahead of November's midterm elections, with Trump and Republican lawmakers facing pressure to demonstrate that their economic policies are lowering rather than raising costs for consumers and businesses. Copper is used in construction, transportation, electronics, electrical equipment and other industries, and broader tariffs could raise costs for automakers, builders and manufacturers of industrial goods.