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Trump Copper Tariffs Spark Concern
July 10, 2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
President Donald Trump stated on July 8 that he plans to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports, sparking concern in a global industry whose output is critical to electric vehicles, military hardware, semiconductors, and a wide range of consumer goods. According to Yahoo Finance, copper futures climbed over 2% following tariff confirmation.
Trump did not state when he planned to introduce the new tariffs, but on July 8, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that they would likely implement the duties by the end of July or Aug. 1, Reuters reported.
Trump ordered a probe in February into possible copper tariffs, citing a November deadline as part of efforts to rebuild U.S. production of the metal. However, it was unclear if the investigation into imports of raw mined copper, concentrates, alloys, scrap, and derivatives had finished.
The U.S. produces just over half the refined copper it uses annually, much of which comes from Arizona, where a stalled major mine expansion has lasted for more than a decade. The U.S. imports the rest—just under 1 million metric tons—because it only has two primary smelters compared to China’s dozens.
While the White House framed the new tariffs as a way to counter China's dominance of the global market, the U.S. imports most of its refined copper from the Americas. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in 2023, Chile, Peru, and Canada made up more than 90% of U.S. copper imports.
While China leads in copper refining, it too depends largely on Latin America and Africa for raw materials. Chile and Peru accounted for roughly one-third of global copper mining in 2024.
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Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Statement from the Global Electronics Association on the July 2025 Tariff on Copper Foil and Electronics-Grade Copper Inputs
07/31/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationWe are disappointed by today’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on imported copper foil and other essential materials critical to electronics manufacturing in the United States.
Considering the Future of Impending Copper Tariffs
07/30/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamThe Global Electronics Association is alerting industry members that a potential 50% tariff on copper could hit U.S. electronics manufacturers where it hurts.
Connect the Dots: Sequential Lamination in HDI PCB Manufacturing
07/31/2025 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the DotsAs HDI technology becomes mainstream in high-speed and miniaturized electronics, understanding the PCB manufacturing process can help PCB design engineers create successful, cost-effective designs using advanced technologies. Designs that incorporate blind and buried vias, boards with space constraints, sensitive signal integrity requirements, or internal heat dissipation concerns are often candidates for HDI technology and usually require sequential lamination to satisfy the requirements.
OKI Launches Rigid-Flex PCBs with Embedded Copper Coins Featuring Improved Heat Dissipation for Space Equipment Applications
07/29/2025 | BUSINESS WIREOKI Circuit Technology, the OKI Group’s printed circuit board (PCB) business company, has developed rigid-flex PCBs with embedded copper coins that offer improved heat dissipation for use in rockets and satellite-mounted equipment operating in vacuum environments.
Designers Notebook: Basic PCB Planning Criteria—Establishing Design Constraints
07/22/2025 | Vern Solberg -- Column: Designer's NotebookPrinted circuit board development flows more smoothly when all critical issues are predefined and understood from the start. As a basic planning strategy, the designer must first consider the product performance criteria, then determine the specific industry standards or specifications that the product must meet. Planning also includes a review of all significant issues that may affect the product’s manufacture, performance, reliability, overall quality, and safety.