President Donald Trump said Wednesday, July 9, that a US "national security" levy on copper would begin in August.
A 50% tariff on US imports of copper − a key metal used in green energy and other technologies − will take effect on August 1, Trump announced on social media. He said the move followed a "robust NATIONAL SECURITY ASSESSMENT," likely alluding to a Department of Commerce investigation into copper launched earlier this year.
"Copper is the second most used material by the Department of Defense!" Trump said.
On Wednesday, Trump also addressed letters to leaders of the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Algeria, Libya, Iraq and Moldova, spelling out duties ranging from 20% to 30% that would also take effect on August 1.
Similar to a first batch of documents published Monday, the levels were not too far from those originally threatened in April, although some partners received notably lower rates this time.
While Trump in April imposed a 10% levy on almost all trading partners, he unveiled − and then withheld − higher rates for dozens of economies.
The deadline for those steeper levels to take effect was meant to be Wednesday, before Trump postponed it further to August 1.