Copper Tumbles as Trade War Fears Resurface

2025-10-14 06:43 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

Copper futures slipped back below $5 per pound on Tuesday, giving up the prior session’s gains as renewed fears of a prolonged US-China trade conflict rattled global markets.

China imposed restrictions on five US units of Hanwha Ocean in retaliation for Washington’s investigations into Chinese maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.

Further stoking tensions, both the US and China began imposing additional port fees on ocean shipping firms, though Beijing granted exemptions for domestically built vessels.

Still, US Treasury Secretary Bessent said Monday that President Trump remains on track to meet Chinese President Xi in South Korea later this month.

Meanwhile, supply concerns persisted as mining disruptions in Chile and Indonesia continued to limit global output, with Chile’s Codelco reporting its lowest monthly production in more than two decades in August and Indonesia’s Grasberg mine still facing restrictions following last month’s fatal accident.



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