US President Imposes 50% Tariff on Copper Imports; Chilean Leader Pledges to Protect National Copper Sector

On the 8th, US President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 50% tariff on imported copper, posing a severe challenge to Chile, the world's largest copper producer.

On the 11th, Chilean President Gabriel Boric stated that Chile would defend its domestic copper industry.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric: "On the matter of copper, there exists no division within Chile. We stand united in defending our copper industry, as this broad political consensus enables us to safeguard our resource sovereignty and determine how these resources contribute to building a fairer and more sustainable world. As a nation, our institutional strengths position us to effectively navigate the uncertainties of this volatile global landscape."

Borich also stated that Chile has long practiced multilateralism and respected international law, while also calling on the international community to uphold international law. Chile will continue to promote trade diversification to safeguard the well-being of the Chilean people.

Chile is the world's largest copper producer and the top supplier of copper to the United States. After the U.S. announced on the 8th that it would impose a 50% tariff on imported copper, Chilean President Gabriel Boric stated on the 9th that Chile is awaiting official communication from the U.S. to clarify the specifics of the tariff policy, expressing hope to reach a consensus with the U.S. through negotiations.