Trump proposes 50% copper tariff, boosting home repair and energy costs

A newly announced A 50% tax on copper might increase expenses for items such as pipe fixing and solar energy systems, and it's sparking fresh worries regarding rising prices.

Copper can be found in many areas of your house without you even noticing, such as in the refrigerator located in your kitchen, the solar panels situated on your rooftop, and particularly within the walls themselves. These walls frequently contain copper wiring and piping that serve electrical and water supply purposes.

Paola Arrizon serves as the field manager and is one of the co-founders of Doctor House Inc. a plumbing business based in San Diego

It's our fundamental component," Arrizon stated. "Whether we're buying new pipes or simply needing to purchase the connectors or bends, or any of the smaller joints that must be handled, it needs to be made from copper to ensure high-quality performance.

Long before the tariff was disclosed, Arrizon mentioned that she had already noticed a significant increase in material expenses.

She stated, 'There has been approximately a 30% rise compared to the previous quarter with regard to what I am observing for this one.' 'This 30%,' she added, 'is likely to surge dramatically.'

In addition to plumbing systems, various daily necessities such as electric vehicles and solar panels rely on copper. Alan Gin, an economics professor at the University of San Diego, noted that over half of the copper consumed in the United States comes from imports, primarily from Canada and Chile.

"This will ultimately lead to increased expenses for manufacturers, who will attempt to transfer these costs to customers," Gin stated.

Donald Trump mentioned in a post on Truth Social that one objective is for the United States to manufacture all of its copper domestically. Gin stated that this is feasible, although it won't be achieved overnight.

To acquire additional production capability, that will require several years," he stated. "Essentially, you must first establish a mine and then extract the copper.

At Doctor House Inc., Arrizon stated her company aims to avoid increasing costs for clients, although this does not imply the business itself will remain unaffected.

We plan to maintain consistent pricing for our outside services—materials and labor," she stated. "The most significant impacts will be felt internally.

The metal tax is set to come into force on August 1st.