As of April 8, 2026, the United States has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on various Peruvian copper manufactures, which could affect around $500 million in exports. This measure primarily targets value-added products, while raw materials such as copper ores maintain their access to the U.S. market. According to the Institute for Research and Development of Foreign Trade (Idexcam) of the Lima Chamber of Commerce, the affected products include wires, bars, sheets, and profiles. Carlos Posada, executive director of Idexcam, explained that these goods have a higher level of processing, which exacerbates the impact on Peruvian exports. In contrast, the anticipated impact on steel and aluminum products is expected to be less significant. The update of tariff regulations, driven by the Trump administration, expands the scope of applicable duties. In many cases, the tariff will be applied to the total value of the imported product, increasing its cost in the U.S. market. Although primary products will not be affected, this measure could harm the competitiveness of higher value-added exports, such as drawn and rolled copper. For more details on how these measures will impact Peruvian trade, you can read this analysis.
