Скачать или смотреть Trump's Rages after Canada halts copper exports to US - $4.2 billion lost to Canada

In mid 2025, the United States announced one of the most dramatic trade measures in recent history: a fifty percent tariff on imported copper. The decision was presented as a matter of national security, designed to protect American industries and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Yet the announcement sent shockwaves through global markets, disrupted a long-standing trade partnership with Canada, and placed enormous strain on industries dependent on copper. Copper is not just another commodity. It is the backbone of modern economies, essential for power grids, electric vehicles, housing, and countless electronic products. A sudden tariff of this scale is more than a financial measure; it represents a reshaping of global supply chains and economic relationships. This narration will examine the origins of the tariff, the immediate reactions from Canada and international markets, the industry-specific impacts, and the long-term consequences for North America and beyond.


On July 10th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. This law allows the president to impose tariffs on imports that are considered threats to national security. In this case, copper was officially designated as a critical security material. Beginning on August 1st, every pound of imported copper would face a fifty percent tariff. The timing was significant. Trade negotiations with Canada, the European Union, and China had stalled. Many analysts observed that the tariff appeared less about protecting national security and more about creating leverage in those talks. The White House extended the deadline for bilateral trade agreements, suggesting that the tariff could be used as a bargaining tool rather than a purely protective measure. Markets responded instantly! Copper futures on the New York Commodity Exchange rose by thirteen percent in a single day, the sharpest jump in history. Prices reached nearly six dollars per pound, setting an all-time record. The surge reflected both speculation and panic, as traders, manufacturers, and governments scrambled to adjust to the new reality.

In 2024, Canadian copper exports totaled around 9.3 billion dollars. Mines in British Columbia and Quebec supply raw copper concentrates that are typically shipped to Asia for refining, before being re-exported to the U.S. as pure cathode copper. This arrangement has functioned for nearly two decades, creating a cost-effective and reliable loop between the two nations. The tariff disrupted this system overnight. Canadian companies now faced the choice of absorbing steep costs to continue serving the U.S. market, or redirecting exports elsewhere. Leading firms such as Teck Resources and Hudbay Minerals quickly began securing shipping contracts with South Korea and Japan, ensuring that copper could bypass the U.S. entirely.