New Copper Tariffs Start Friday

Updated 07/31/2025

On July 30, 2025, the White House released a proclamation, Adjusting Imports of Copper into the United States, implementing new tariffs on certain copper imports. A Fact Sheet is also available.

Effective August 1, 2025, a 50% duty rate will be assessed on products specified in the Annex of the proclamation, which includes all imports of semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products.

“In my judgment, the action in this proclamation will, among other things, help increase domestic production of semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products, thereby reducing our Nation’s reliance on foreign sources.” – U.S. President Trump

Details

What products are impacted?

All imports of semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products, as set forth in the Annex of the proclamation.

Duty Rate

The rate of duty shall be assessed at 50%.

Effective Date

This tariff shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 1, 2025.

Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) Modifications

HTSUS 9903.78.01 will be used to apply 50% additional ad valorem rate of duty on the copper content of semi-finished copper and intensive copper derivative products.

HTSUS 9903.78.02: 0% additional ad valorem rate of duty on:

• the non-copper content of semi-finished copper and intensive copper derivative products; and
• imported goods under the subject HTSUS classifications which contain no copper.

Future Additions

Within 90 days after the date of this proclamation, the Secretary shall establish a process for including additional derivative copper articles, consistent with the processes established pursuant to the Section 232 proclamations for aluminum and steel.

Copper Tariff Application / Interaction with Other Tariffs

• The copper tariffs shall apply only to the copper content of articles subject to this proclamation.
• IEEPA China, Canada, Mexico, Reciprocal: The non-copper content of all copper articles subject to this proclamation shall be subject to Reciprocal tariffs and any other applicable duties, including those imposed by IEEPA Canada, IEEPA Mexico, IEEPA China.

• Exemption for Goods Subject to Section 232 Duties on Auto / Auto Parts: If an imported good is subject to both the Section 232 duties on automobiles and automobile parts under Proclamation 10908, as amended, and the Section 232 duties on copper and copper derivative products, then the Section 232 duties on copper and copper derivative products are not applicable.
• IEEPA Reciprocal Tariff Exception: International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Reciprocal tariff exception 9903.01.33 applies to goods subject to Section 232 tariffs including semi-finished copper and intensive copper derivative products provided for in 9903.78.01.

FTZ

Any product subject to these tariffs, that is subject to a duty imposed by this proclamation and that is admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone (FTZ) on or after the effective date of this proclamation must be admitted as “privileged foreign” status and will be subject upon entry for consumption to any ad valorem rate s of duty related to the classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading.

Drawback

No drawback shall be available with respect to the duties imposed pursuant to this proclamation.

Future Plans

• The Secretary shall continue to monitor imports of copper and its derivatives and inform the President of any circumstances that, in the Secretary’s opinion, might indicate the need for further action by the President under section 232.

• By June 30, 2026, the Secretary shall provide the President with an update on domestic copper markets, so that the President may determine whether imposing a phased universal import duty on refined copper of 15% starting on January 1, 2027, and 30% starting on January 1, 2028, as previously recommended.

Miscellaneous

• Copper input materials and high-quality copper scrap meet the criteria specified in section 101(b) of the DPA, 50 U.S.C. 4511(b), the Secretary shall take all appropriate action to implement the domestic sales requirements that he previously recommended.

• The U.S. intends to coordinate with the UK to adopt a structured negotiated approach to addressing the national security threat in the copper sector.
• CBP shall issue authoritative guidance mandating strict compliance with declaration requirements for copper content in imported articles and outlining maximum penalties for noncompliance, including that importers who submit underreported declarations may be subject to severe consequences, such as significant monetary penalties, loss of import privileges, and criminal liability, consistent with United States law.

FAQs

How should the value of copper be determined and reported to U.S. Customs?

From CSMS # 65794272: The value of the copper content should be determined in accordance with the principles of the Customs Valuation Agreement, as implemented in 19 U.S.C. 1401a.

The value of the copper content is the total price paid or payable for that content, which is:

• the total payment made/to be made for the copper content by the buyer to, or for the benefit of, the seller of the copper content.
• Normally, this would be based on the invoice paid by the buyer of the copper content to, or for the benefit of the seller of the copper content.

For imported articles composed only of copper, the dutiable value of the copper content is the total entered value, and the duty must be reported under the HTSUS 9903.78.01 classification based on the total entered value, on only one entry summary line. 

If the value of the copper content cannot be determined, then report the duty based on the total entered value, on only one entry summary line.

For articles not composed only of copper, the value of the copper content and the value of the non-copper content should be reported on two entry summary lines.  The first line should represent the non-copper content, and the second line should represent the copper content.

What type of documentation do Importers need to support a copper claim?

For all Section 232 duties based on copper content which are based on a value other than the entire value of the good, importers must keep documentation to support the reported values and provide to CBP upon request. 

Examples of such documentation include, but are not limited to:

• the bill of materials for the production of the goods,
• invoices for the materials used in the production of the goods,
• accounting documentation to substantiate the reported values. 

When insufficient documentation is provided to substantiate the reported values, CBP will collect the duties on the copper content based on the entire value of the good. 

What could happen if an Importer underreports copper value on a customs declaration?

Importers who submit underreported declarations may be subject to severe consequences, such as significant monetary penalties, loss of import privileges, and criminal liability, consistent with United States law.

Have Questions? Contact your local NNR Representative.

We will continue to monitor this tariff action and provide updates as they become available.