U.S. Copper Prices Hit Record 138% Premium: Tariff Spike to Fuel Inflation, Manufacturing Costs & Economic Risks | July 2025
Key Takeaways Historic price gap : US copper prices hit record highs, trading at a 138% premium after Trump's 50% tariff announcement . Supply chain chaos : Traders rushed copper into US ports since February, anticipating tariffs – inventories now overflow but future shortages loom . Economic shockwaves : Every American-made product using copper – from air conditioners to EVs – faces imminent price hikes . Renewable roadblock : US electrification goals (EVs, grid upgrades, solar farms) now cost significantly more, risking climate targets . Global fallout : Chile, Canada, and Mexico scramble to renegotiate deals as their US-bound copper shipments face collapse . Why Copper Prices Exploded Overnight So Tuesday July 8th, Trump drops the bomb during a cabinet meeting: "Today we’re doing copper" – straight up 50% tariffs on imports. Markets went nuts. Comex copper futures shot up 17% in hours, hitting $5.69/lb ($12,500+/ton). That’s the craziest single-day jump since 1989 . ...