© 2025 WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting
Member-Supported Public Media from Southern Illinois University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.9 FM has returned to full power. Thank you for your patience and support!

Copper prices have spiked in the U.S. What does that means for consumers and the economy?

An employee monitors the 8mm diameter copper cable which is rolled up before passing through a rolling mill to become cable at the Nexans manufacture in Lens, northern France, on May 11, 2022. - (Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images)
/
An employee monitors the 8mm diameter copper cable which is rolled up before passing through a rolling mill to become cable at the Nexans manufacture in Lens, northern France, on May 11, 2022. - (Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. price premium surged past the global benchmark to hit record highs this week, in reaction to President Trump’s proposal to place a 50% tariff on copper imports.

The metal is a crucial component in a dizzying array of goods and infrastructure, from cutting-edge military equipment to the pots and pans Americans use to cook their meals. And the U.S. imports about half of the copper it uses annually.

Here & Now‘s Scott Tong speaks with MSNBC host and chief economic correspondent Ali Velshi.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2025 WBUR

Tags
Here & Now Newsroom
As a WSIU donor, you don’t simply watch or listen to public media programs, you are a partner. By making a gift, you help WSIU produce, purchase, and broadcast programs you care about and enjoy – every day of the year.