Copper Tariffs: Which Countries Does the United States Import the Most From?

Fifty-sevent percent of U.S. refined copper consumption relies on imports.

By Jack Caporal – Updated Feb 24, 2026 at 8:34 PM EST | Fact-checked by Parker Hicks

Key Points

Upcoming 50% tariffs on semi-finished and derivative copper products start August 1.
Chile, Canada, and Mexico are top U.S. copper sources, potentially impacting tariffs' effects.
Copper import volatility may alter prices, affecting construction and tech sectors.

Copper is the third-most-used metal in the United States, behind iron and aluminum, and imports make up 57% of refined copper consumption. This makes the metal and industries that rely on it susceptible to tariffs and other trade disruptions. Imports of semi-finished copper and "copper-intensive derivative products" will face a 50% tariff starting on Aug. 1, 2025.

The Motley Fool has compiled data on copper imports to help investors navigate potential trade volatility amid the Trump administration's tariffs on metals.

Where does the U.S. import copper from?

The chart and table show sources of U.S. copper imports over time and a country-by-country breakdown of the type of copper exported to the U.S. in 2025.

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Chile is the top source of U.S. copper imports (46%), followed by Canada (18%), Congo (10%), Mexico (5%), and Peru (5%)

Refined copper accounts for the majority of U.S. copper imports from Chile.
Canada exports a combination of refined copper, copper wire, and scrap to the United States.
Mexico’s largest copper export to the United States is copper scrap.
Peru and Congo mainly export refined copper to the United States.

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Overall, refined copper makes up 87% of U.S. copper imports. Copper scrap accounts for 7%, and copper waste accounts for 6%.

Refined copper is used in electrical wiring, plumbing, and electronics. Copper wire is mainly used in power transmission, generation, and telecommunications. Copper scrap is recycled to manufacture new copper products.

How much copper does the U.S. produce?

The United States mined 1 million metric tons of copper in 2025 and refined 790,000 metric tons. It has 47 million metric tons of copper in reserve.

Chile was the world's largest copper producer in 2025, mining 5.3 million metric tons. It refined 1.7 million metric tons.

China was the largest copper refiner in 2025, pumping out 14 million metric tons of refined copper. Congo was the second-largest copper refiner that year by a wide margin, producing 2.8 million metric tons.

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What investors should know about copper tariffs?

Imports of semi-refined and "copper-intensive derivative products" will face a 50% tariff starting on August 1. Those tariffs are a result of a Section 232 investigation, which found that copper imports pose a threat to national security. The tariffs will not stack with other Section 232 tariffs, such as those on automobiles and auto parts.

Tariffs, if applied to countries that are the top exporters of copper to the United States, could disrupt commodity prices and market performance of companies in sectors that heavily rely on copper, including construction, utilities, telecommunications, and electronics manufacturing. Tariffs could also result in countermeasures from major exporters, such as Chile, Canada, and Mexico.

Investors should stay informed about the latest policy developments and market reactions to changes to copper tariffs.

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Sources

U.S. Geological Survey (2026). "Copper Statistics and Information."

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About the Author

Jack Caporal is the Research Director for The Motley Fool and Motley Fool Money. Jack leads efforts to identify and analyze trends shaping investing and personal financial decisions across the United States. His research has appeared in thousands of media outlets including Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC, and has been cited in congressional testimony. He previously covered business and economic trends as a reporter and policy analyst in Washington, D.C. He serves as Chair of the Trade Policy Committee at the World Trade Center in Denver, Colorado. He holds a B.A. degree in International Relations with a concentration in International Economics from Michigan State University.

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