The Guardian reported that President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into potential new tariffs on copper imports to revitalize the production of this critical metal for electric vehicles, military hardware, the power grid, and various U.S. consumer goods.
Alcoa – the largest aluminum producer in the U.S. – has warned of the potential negative impacts on the aluminum industry as the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration take effect, potentially eliminating up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in the U.S. Alcoa’s CEO stated that, in his view, having different tariff rates for Canada and the rest of the world is completely unreasonable.
The report by the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) shows that in 2024, the zinc market experienced a supply deficit of 62,000 tons. However, in 2025, supply and demand for zinc are expected to shift to a surplus.
The U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the country starting today, March 12, 2025, marking a new escalation in Donald Trump’s trade war aimed at reducing the trade deficit and protecting American steel manufacturers.
Nyrstar will reduce production by 25% at its Hobart zinc operations in Australia starting from April 2025. This decision follows a thorough and comprehensive review and is a direct response to deteriorating market conditions and financial losses faced by Nyrstar Australia.
JPost quoted several analysts who suggested that Goldman Sachs’ gold price forecast of $3,300 per ounce might still be a conservative estimate. This is because Goldman Sachs’ report did not account for a key factor: Chinese insurance companies have recently been allowed to allocate 1% of their assets into gold.
