Three of the United States’ top copper suppliers are trying to convince the Trump administration that their export of the metal to the U.S. does not threaten the country’s national security, in a bid to avoid possible tariffs.
Representatives for Chile, Canada and Peru all filed public comments to the Commerce Department arguing that their copper exports complement the American metal supply chain and provide products needed for large-scale U.S. industrial projects.
Their comments come in response to the Commerce Department’s investigation, launched on Feb. 25, into whether U.S. reliance on foreign countries for its copper endangers national security. The findings of the investigation could pave the way for the U.S. to raise tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The copper probe covers raw copper, refined copper, copper concentrates, copper alloys and scrap copper, as well as derivative products that use copper.
The Trump administration gave affected countries and businesses an April 1 deadline to provide public comment, according to the Federal Register. The investigation has received nearly 100 comments, many of which requested remedies other than tariffs, including several from industry groups in foreign countries who warn new duties would undermine competitiveness.
