Trump Warns Reliance On Foreign Copper ‘Poses A Direct Threat’ To National Security

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order directing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to investigate implementing tariffs on copper imports with the goal of increasing domestic production. 

Trump said in the order that America’s reliance on other countries for copper seriously undermined national security. With that in mind, he directed Lutnick to examine potential tariffs on copper, export controls, and other incentives to increase copper production in the United States.