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Trump Copper Tariffs Spark Concern
July 10, 2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
President Donald Trump stated on July 8 that he plans to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports, sparking concern in a global industry whose output is critical to electric vehicles, military hardware, semiconductors, and a wide range of consumer goods. According to Yahoo Finance, copper futures climbed over 2% following tariff confirmation.
Trump did not state when he planned to introduce the new tariffs, but on July 8, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that they would likely implement the duties by the end of July or Aug. 1, Reuters reported.
Trump ordered a probe in February into possible copper tariffs, citing a November deadline as part of efforts to rebuild U.S. production of the metal. However, it was unclear if the investigation into imports of raw mined copper, concentrates, alloys, scrap, and derivatives had finished.
The U.S. produces just over half the refined copper it uses annually, much of which comes from Arizona, where a stalled major mine expansion has lasted for more than a decade. The U.S. imports the rest—just under 1 million metric tons—because it only has two primary smelters compared to China’s dozens.
While the White House framed the new tariffs as a way to counter China's dominance of the global market, the U.S. imports most of its refined copper from the Americas. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in 2023, Chile, Peru, and Canada made up more than 90% of U.S. copper imports.
While China leads in copper refining, it too depends largely on Latin America and Africa for raw materials. Chile and Peru accounted for roughly one-third of global copper mining in 2024.
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Closing the Loop on PCB Etching Waste
09/09/2025 | Shawn Stone, IECAs the PCB industry continues its push toward greener, more cost-efficient operations, Sigma Engineering’s Mecer System offers a comprehensive solution to two of the industry’s most persistent pain points: etchant consumption and rinse water waste. Designed as a modular, fully automated platform, the Mecer System regenerates spent copper etchants—both alkaline and acidic—and simultaneously recycles rinse water, transforming a traditionally linear chemical process into a closed-loop system.
Driving Innovation: Depth Routing Processes—Achieving Unparalleled Precision in Complex PCBs
09/08/2025 | Kurt Palmer -- Column: Driving InnovationIn PCB manufacturing, the demand for increasingly complex and miniaturized designs continually pushes the boundaries of traditional fabrication methods, including depth routing. Success in these applications demands not only on robust machinery but also sophisticated control functions. PCB manufacturers rely on advanced machine features and process methodologies to meet their precise depth routing goals. Here, I’ll explore some crucial functions that empower manufacturers to master complex depth routing challenges.
Trouble in Your Tank: Minimizing Small-via Defects for High-reliability PCBs
08/27/2025 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankTo quote the comedian Stephen Wright, “If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.” That can be the battle cry when you find that only small-diameter vias are exhibiting voids. Why are small holes more prone to voids than larger vias when processed through electroless copper? There are several reasons.
The Government Circuit: Navigating New Trade Headwinds and New Partnerships
08/25/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitAs global trade winds continue to howl, the electronics manufacturing industry finds itself at a critical juncture. After months of warnings, the U.S. Government has implemented a broad array of tariff increases, with fresh duties hitting copper-based products, semiconductors, and imports from many nations. On the positive side, tentative trade agreements with Europe, China, Japan, and other nations are providing at least some clarity and counterbalance.
How Good Design Enables Sustainable PCBs
08/21/2025 | Gerry Partida, Summit InterconnectSustainability has become a key focus for PCB companies seeking to reduce waste, conserve energy, and optimize resources. While many discussions on sustainability center around materials or energy-efficient processes, PCB design is an often overlooked factor that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Good design practices, especially those based on established IPC standards, play a central role in enabling sustainable PCB production. By ensuring designs are manufacturable and reliable, engineers can significantly reduce the environmental impact of their products.