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

Another industrial metal is in the spotlight, once again due to President Trump. Copper prices are rallying after Trump instructed the Commerce Department to investigate imposing tariffs on imports of the metal.

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,

President Donald Trump is directing the government to consider potential tariffs on copper, the latest move by the White House to tax a wide array of imports and reshape global trade.

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.

President Trump on Tuesday directed his Commerce secretary to investigate the need for possible tariffs on copper, the latest industry to potentially be targeted by Trump’s sweeping trade agenda.

Copper futures surged after President Donald Trump ordered the US Commerce Department to examine possible imports tariffs on all forms of the metal.

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