President Donald Trump opened yet another front on Tuesday in his assault on global trade norms, ordering a probe into potential new tariffs on copper imports to rebuild U.S. production of a metal critical to electric vehicles,

"American industries depend on copper, and it should be made in America, no exemptions, no exceptions," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.

US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation of copper imports in what is a first step toward potential tariffs on the metal. Administration officials said the White House wanted to find ways to boost US production of copper,

President Donald Trump on Tuesday directed the government to consider possible tariffs on copper, the latest move by the White House to tax a wide array of imports and reshape global trade. “It will have a big impact,

President Trump ordered Commerce to study whether tariffs are needed to reduce the U.S. reliance upon imported copper, needed for military equipment, data centers and electric vehicles.

The White House suggested Tuesday there is a strong case for copper import protections because the metal is an essential component of military hardware.

Tariffs, if they are imposed, could boost U.S. production of a valuable resource but also raise costs for automakers, construction companies and others.

The U.S. mined about 1.1 million tons of copper in 2024, which is less than the demand in a year. Some of that copper is refined overseas.

An executive order calls for boosting the domestic industry by investigating the national security implications of imports and weighing tariffs.

China's growing copper reserves have caught the eye of President Donald Trump, who on Tuesday ordered an investigation into what administration officials say is Beijing's move to "gain control of the world's copper markets.