Copper Tariff 2026: Section 232 Rates, Affected Products, and What Importers Need to Know

Copper imports to the US now face a 50% Section 232 tariff on full customs value. Not on the copper content within a product — on the entire declared value of the shipment. That distinction matters enormously, and I'll explain why in a moment.

The tariff applies to articles classified under HTS Chapter 74 (copper and articles thereof), with lower rates for derivative products and a complete exemption for items where copper makes up less than 15% of total weight. The current structure took effect April 6, 2026, though copper has been subject to Section 232 duties since August 2025.

If you're importing copper wire, pipes, fittings, foil, or any product substantially made of copper, your landed costs just changed dramatically. Here's the full breakdown.

Already know your HTS code? Look up your copper product's current duty rate — it takes 10 seconds.

The April 6 Methodology Shift: Why Your Bill Might Have Doubled

Here's what most news coverage missed. The original Section 232 copper tariff from August 2025 (Proclamation 10962) charged 50% on the copper input value within a product. So if you imported a $10,000 shipment of copper pipe fittings where the raw copper content was worth $4,000, you paid 50% on $4,000 = $2,000 in Section 232 duties.

The April 2, 2026 restructuring changed the calculation basis to full customs value. That same $10,000 shipment of pipe fittings now triggers 50% on $10,000 = $5,000 in Section 232 duties. Your tariff bill went from $2,000 to $5,000 — a 150% increase — even though the tariff "rate" stayed at 50%.

This methodology change hit steel and aluminum importers at the same time, but copper importers felt it most acutely because copper has been under Section 232 for less than a year. Many importers had just finished adjusting their supply chains to the copper input value method when the rules changed again.

The White House fact sheet called this "closing a loophole." Whether it's a loophole or a policy reversal depends on which side of the import transaction you're on.

The Five-Tier Rate Structure

The April 2026 proclamation created a tiered system. Your rate depends on what you're importing and where the metal was smelted:

| Tier | Rate | What It Covers | Example Products | |---|---|---|---| | Annex I-A | 50% | Articles made entirely or primarily of copper (HTS Chapter 74) | Copper wire, bars, rods, pipes, tubes, foil, fittings | | Annex I-B | 25% | Derivative articles substantially made of copper | Insulated cables (8544), copper-containing electrical components | | Grid/Industrial | 15% | Metal-intensive electrical grid and industrial equipment (expires end of 2027) | Transformers, switchgear, high-voltage transmission equipment | | US-Origin Metal | 10% | Products made abroad using American-smelted and cast copper | Foreign-fabricated products verified as using US copper | | De Minimis | 0% | Products where copper is less than 15% of total weight (not in Chapters 72-74, 76) | Circuit boards, consumer electronics, finished machinery |

The 15% grid/industrial rate was a late addition — utility companies and grid operators lobbied hard, pointing out that tariffing grid equipment at 50% would make the administration's own infrastructure goals more expensive. It sunsets after 2027, presumably when domestic manufacturing catches up. Whether that happens is another question.

Which Copper Products Are Affected

The 50% Tier: HTS Chapter 74

Everything in Chapter 74 gets the full 50% rate. Here are the key subchapters:

| HTS Code | Product | Pre-April 6 Rate | Current Rate | |---|---|---|---| | 7403 | Refined copper and copper alloys, unwrought | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value | | 7407 | Copper bars, rods, and profiles | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value | | 7408 | Copper wire | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value | | 7409 | Copper plates, sheets, strip (>0.15mm) | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value | | 7410 | Copper foil (≤0.15mm) | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value | | 7411 | Copper tubes and pipes | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value | | 7412 | Copper tube/pipe fittings | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value | | 7413 | Stranded wire, cables (not insulated) | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value | | 7418 | Household articles of copper | 50% on copper value | 50% on full value |

What's exempt: Copper ores and concentrates (7401), copper mattes, and copper scrap (7404) are not subject to Section 232 duties. This was intentional — the US doesn't have enough smelting capacity to process raw copper domestically. Only two primary copper smelters operate in the US: Kennecott (Rio Tinto) in Utah and Miami (Freeport-McMoRan) in Arizona, both running near capacity.

The 25% Tier: Derivative Products

Products that contain copper as a significant component but aren't classified in Chapter 74 fall under Annex I-B at 25%. The most common examples are insulated copper conductors under HTS 8544 — think building wire, power cables, and data cables.

CBP has directed importers of certain electrical conductors (8544.42.10, 8544.42.20, 8544.42.90, 8544.49.10) to report the country where copper inputs were smelted and cast. This "smelt-and-cast" reporting mirrors the "melt-and-pour" requirement for steel — it's how CBP tracks origin when finished products are assembled in third countries.

Look up your specific HTS code to confirm which tier applies.

The 15% Weight Exception: When Copper Content Gets You Off the Hook

Products listed in Annex I-B or Annex III are exempt from Section 232 duties if the aggregate weight of copper (and any other listed metal) is less than 15% of the total product weight.

How It Works in Practice

Say you import a finished industrial motor weighing 200 kg. The copper winding inside weighs 25 kg — that's 12.5% of total weight. Under the 15% rule, this motor pays zero Section 232 duty on the copper content.

Now take a copper pipe fitting weighing 2 kg that's 95% copper. Obviously, 95% exceeds 15%, so the full 50% rate applies.

The Critical Catch: Chapter Exclusions

The 15% exception does not apply to products classified in HTS Chapters 72 (iron and steel), 73 (articles of iron/steel), 74 (copper), or 76 (aluminum). If your product is classified in any of those chapters, the Section 232 rate applies regardless of metal weight percentage.

This means the exception only helps when copper is a component in a product classified elsewhere — electronics (Chapter 85), machinery (Chapter 84), vehicles (Chapter 87), or other manufactured goods.

Reporting Requirement

If you're claiming the 0% de minimis rate, CBP requires you to report the aggregate weight of applicable metals in kilograms as a second quantity on your entry summary line. Get this wrong and CBP can reclassify your entry retroactively.

Top Copper Import Countries and Total Duty Burden

The US imported $17.37 billion in copper products in 2024 — a 20% jump from 2023. Three countries supply over 90% of US refined copper imports:

| Country | 2024 Import Value | Share of US Copper Imports | Refined Copper Share | Section 232 Rate | |---|---|---|---|---| | Chile | ~$6.2 billion | 35.7% | 64% of refined imports | 50% | | Canada | ~$4.0 billion | 23% | 18% of refined imports | 50% | | Mexico | ~$980 million | 5.7% | 11% of refined imports | 50% | | Peru | ~$920 million | 5.3% | ~7% of refined imports | 50% |

Tariff Stacking: Section 232 vs. Section 122

Here's some good news (relatively speaking): copper products subject to Section 232 duties are exempt from the Section 122 tariff (the 15% global surcharge that replaced IEEPA reciprocal tariffs after the Supreme Court ruling). So you're paying 50%, not 65%.

Section 301 tariffs on China can stack with Section 232, though. A Chapter 74 copper product from China would face the base MFN duty + 50% Section 232 + any applicable Section 301 rate. For Chinese copper, total effective rates can exceed 100%.

USMCA does not exempt Canadian or Mexican copper from Section 232. This has been a point of friction with both trading partners — Canada in particular has called the tariffs a violation of the agreement's spirit.

Important: You can still use the tariff calculator to look up the combined duty rate for any copper HTS code from any country.

Industry Cost Impact: Real Numbers

The copper tariff isn't an abstract policy debate for the industries actually paying it. Here's what the data shows:

Construction: Copper and brass mill shapes climbed 15.7% year-over-year in January 2026, per AGC data. Copper wire and cable prices jumped 22% in the same period. The Associated General Contractors estimated tariff-driven cost increases of 4-6% on overall project expenses — and that was before the April full-customs-value switch.

Electronics: IPC, the electronics industry trade group, warned that tariffs on copper "drive up costs, create uncertainty, and weaken a fragile U.S. electronics industry." Copper is core to printed circuit boards, semiconductor packaging, and power delivery systems. Most PCBs qualify for the 15% weight exception, but copper-intensive power electronics and connectors don't.

EVs and Charging Infrastructure: Electric vehicles use 3-4x more copper than conventional cars — motor windings, battery connectors, wiring harnesses. EV charging project costs are expected to rise 10-13%, though the 15% grid/industrial rate through 2027 softens the blow for charging station equipment.

Data Centers: This is the fastest-growing source of copper demand. A conventional data center uses 5,000-15,000 tons of copper. Hyperscale AI data centers can use up to 50,000 tons per facility. With copper already in a projected 150,000-ton global deficit for 2026, the tariff adds fuel to a supply-constrained fire.

The Price Story

COMEX copper hit a record $5.65/lb in Q2 2025 when tariffs were first announced, then surged to $6.20/lb in January 2026. The US COMEX premium over London Metal Exchange prices widened to a record 27% ($2,520 per metric ton) — meaning US buyers pay substantially more than the rest of the world for the same metal.

No Exclusion Process: Your Relief Options

Here's what makes the copper tariff different from steel and aluminum: there is no exclusion process. When Section 232 tariffs hit steel and aluminum in 2018, Commerce created a product-level exclusion system where importers could petition for relief. That system processed thousands of requests (albeit slowly and inconsistently) until it was shut down on February 10, 2025.

For copper, no exclusion process was ever created. The original July 2025 proclamation didn't direct Commerce to build one. The April 2026 restructuring eliminated the steel/aluminum derivatives inclusions process entirely.

What Relief Exists

Your options are limited but real:

De minimis exception (0%): If your product is classified outside Chapters 72-76 and copper is less than 15% of total weight, you pay nothing. Reclassify or redesign products where possible.
US-origin metal rate (10%): If your product is made abroad using American-smelted and cast copper, you qualify for the reduced rate. Requires documentation of the copper supply chain.
Grid/industrial equipment rate (15%): Certain electrical grid and industrial equipment qualifies for a lower rate through end of 2027.
Foreign Trade Zones: FTZ manufacturing can provide tariff benefits depending on the operation. Consult a customs broker for specifics.
Duty drawback: If you re-export copper products, you can recover up to 99% of duties paid under the drawback program.

What's Coming Next

Three dates to watch:

June 30, 2026: The Commerce Secretary must deliver an update on US domestic copper markets and refining capacity. This report will inform whether the administration imposes tariffs on refined copper (cathodes and anodes), which are currently exempt.

January 1, 2027: The Commerce report recommended a 15% tariff on refined copper starting this date, rising to 30% on January 1, 2028. If implemented, this would affect the raw material that smelters and refiners depend on — a much bigger disruption than tariffing finished copper products.

End of 2027: The 15% grid/industrial equipment rate expires. Unless extended, those products would jump to 25% or 50%.

The administration is walking a tightrope: tariffing enough to incentivize domestic copper production while not cratering the industries that consume copper. With US import reliance rising from 31% in 2016 to roughly 45% in 2024, and only two primary smelters operating domestically, self-sufficiency isn't happening soon. The USGS and mining industry analysts don't project domestic production matching demand before 2035 at the earliest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the copper tariff rate in 2026?

50% on articles of copper (HTS Chapter 74), 25% on derivative articles substantially made of copper, 15% on qualifying grid/industrial equipment, and 0% on products where copper is less than 15% of total weight. All rates apply to full customs value as of April 6, 2026.

Does the copper tariff apply to products that contain copper?

Yes, if copper is a substantial component. Derivative articles fall under the 25% rate. However, if copper makes up less than 15% of the total product weight and the product isn't classified in HTS Chapters 72-76, the product is exempt.

Can I get an exclusion from the copper tariff?

No. Unlike steel and aluminum, there is no product exclusion process for Section 232 copper tariffs. The only relief options are the de minimis exception, US-origin metal rate, or duty drawback on re-exported goods.

When did the copper tariff start?

Section 232 copper tariffs first took effect August 1, 2025, at 50% on the copper input value of semi-finished products. On April 6, 2026, the calculation switched to full customs value across a tiered rate structure.

Are copper ores and scrap subject to the tariff?

No. Copper ores, concentrates, mattes (HTS 7401), and copper scrap (HTS 7404) are exempt from Section 232 duties. The tariff targets semi-finished and finished copper products.

Does Section 232 copper stack with other tariffs?

Section 232 does not stack with the Section 122 global tariff (15%) — products subject to Section 232 are exempt from Section 122. However, Section 301 tariffs on China do stack with Section 232, potentially pushing total rates above 100% for Chinese copper imports. Normal MFN duties also apply on top of Section 232.

Need to look up your specific duty rate? Use our tariff calculator — it covers Section 232, Section 301, Section 122, and base MFN rates for every HTS code and country.

Wondering about tariff exemptions more broadly? Read our guide to Section 301, 232, and 201 tariffs for the full picture.

Importing copper from a specific country? Check our country tariff pages for duty rates, trade agreements, and compliance requirements for 90+ countries.