Antofagasta, Chile - December 23, 2024 On Wednesday, July 9, senior government officials from Chile and Mexico indicated that they might seek alternative markets to avoid Trump's tariff threats, following the previous day's threat by US President Trump to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports. US President Trump stated on July 8 that a new 50% tariff would be imposed on all copper imported into the US, though the specific effective date of the new tariff was not disclosed. According to CNBC, after a cabinet meeting, US Secretary of Commerce Raimondo said that the Commerce Department had completed its investigation into copper imports and that he expected the new tariff "to be implemented possibly by the end of July or August 1."