Renowned mining magnate Robert Friedland has voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s proposed 50% tariff on copper imports, calling the move “intelligent” and necessary for U.S. national security. While some industry leaders and analysts have raised concerns about the economic logic of such a high levy, Friedland argues that the decision is long overdue and aims to wake Americans up to the strategic importance of domestic mineral production.
A Wake-Up Call on Critical Minerals
Speaking to the Financial Times, Friedland described copper as one of many critical raw materials essential for energy transition, technological development, and defense manufacturing.
“There’s a new list of critical raw materials. Without them, you can’t combat global warming or green the economy. And you have a critical vulnerability in national security,” he said.
Friedland commended the Trump administration for “doing what’s obvious and intelligent,” adding that “America needs to produce the metal” domestically, refine it locally, and reduce reliance on foreign sources — not just for copper, but for dozens of essential minerals.
Copper Market Reacts, but Friedland Dismisses It
Following Trump’s tariff announcement, U.S. copper prices dipped slightly to $5.53 per pound, though they still remain 28% higher than the global benchmark on the London Metal Exchange. Friedland brushed aside the short-term market response as “irrelevant”, reiterating that the policy is about long-term strategic resilience, not price fluctuations.
“What’s really going on here is that the U.S. wants the metal to be produced and refined here. Copper is a paradigm for probably 30 critical metals,” he explained.
Mining Industry Sees Policy Shift Under Trump
Friedland, the 74-year-old founder of Ivanhoe Mines and chairman of Ivanhoe Electric, is one of the most prominent mining voices in North America. Known for his extensive experience in China, Africa, and the Middle East, Friedland has advised multiple U.S. administrations on mining issues and was part of a high-level meeting with Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during Trump’s visit to Riyadh in May.
Though he declined to comment on specifics of his discussions with U.S. officials, Friedland praised the Trump administration’s pro-mining stance, calling it a “breath of fresh air” after decades of regulatory hostility.
“The miners have been beaten with the ugly stick for 50 years, as if mining were an elemental sin. Yet everyone wants an electric car, a microwave, or a washing machine,” he said.
Supporting Domestic Projects and Military Readiness
Trump’s Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has urged companies to “mine, baby, mine,” emphasizing the administration’s commitment to reducing U.S. dependence on Chinese metals. Recent efforts include expediting permits for long-delayed domestic projects such as Rio Tinto’s Resolution Copper Mine in Arizona.
Friedland’s own company, Ivanhoe Electric, is developing the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona. He believes boosting domestic output will not only support the green energy transition but also ensure the U.S. military maintains a secure supply of copper needed for ammunition, vehicles, and advanced equipment in a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
“We’re moving from a just-in-time to a just-in-case world economy,” Friedland explained. “And raising tariffs on critical raw materials is a just-in-case move — just in case we have a war, we have to have enough raw material to deal with it.”
As global trade tensions rise and the U.S. rethinks its industrial and defense supply chains, Trump’s copper tariffs are emerging as a flashpoint in the broader debate over self-sufficiency, national security, and economic strategy in a volatile geopolitical landscape.
