Trump orders copper check in the first step for tariff

US President Donald Trump has ordered an inquiry into copper imports which is the first step towards a possible tariff on metal.

Administration officials said that the White House wanted to find ways to promote copper American production, a component used to create an electric car, ship and data center, which he said was important for national security .

The move started a process, which trump used to first use tariffs on steel and aluminum, opening a new front in his business war.

Trump has already collected tariffs on goods from China, while threatening a range of 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico and a series of more comprehensive business functions including new “mutual” tariffs set for each country.

Trade quarrels have attracted the hazards of vengeance, increasing the alarm between consumers and businesses in the US about high cost.

Concerns about plans have contributed to a sharp decline in consumer confidence in recent surveys.

But the administration officials said that on Tuesday they believe that this action was necessary to protect American copper companies from competition from China.

Peter Navarro said, “China has long used industrial capacity and dumped to dominate global markets, systematically reducing contestants and to get rival out of business. Is.”

“It’s time to come to the copper house,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutynik.

Tariffs are tax levied on imported goods from other countries, which are paid by the company that is bringing in goods.

They intend to support domestic production by making imports more expensive.

America is already A major copper manufacturerWhile metal imports from Chile, Canada and Mexico also mainly.

Last year, it exported more copper than being brought from abroad, according to this Statistics from Census Department,

But China’s global copper export also increased, as domestic demand weakened, and the authorities ran to curb production.

The so -called 232 investigation by the Commerce Department will look at the import of copper, as well as the import of copper “derivatives”.

The investigation schedule was not clear. On a background briefing about the action, an official of the White House said that the results of the investigation would inform the level of the potential tariff.