Trump overturns copper smelting plant regulations from the Biden era, loosening oversight for domestic copper producers in the U.S
Former U.S. President Donald Trump overturned the air pollution regulations established during the Biden administration, easing emission restrictions on copper smelters and granting a two-year compliance exemption period. This move aims to reduce the regulatory burden on domestic copper producers and enhance mineral security. The White House stated that strict requirements could lead to plant closures and increase reliance on foreign processing capabilities. The two smelters mentioned in the announcement are operated by Freeport-McMoRan and Rio Tinto, and Trump had previously listed copper as a critical material needed for defense and infrastructure
According to the Zhitong Finance APP, U.S. President Donald Trump overturned an air pollution regulation from the Biden administration on Friday, which had imposed stricter limits on emissions from copper smelters. The "Copper Rule" is set to be finalized in May 2024, requiring smelters to control emissions of pollutants such as lead, arsenic, mercury, benzene, and dioxins according to updated federal air quality standards. Trump's announcement grants a two-year compliance exemption for affected stationary sources of pollution. The White House stated that this move would help enhance U.S. mineral security by alleviating the regulatory burden on domestic copper producers.
In announcing this change, the White House said, "Imposing these requirements on such a limited and already overwhelmed domestic industry could accelerate the closure of more plants, weaken the national industrial base, undermine mineral autonomy, and increase reliance on foreign-controlled processing capacity."
The announcement specifically mentioned the only two copper smelters in the U.S., one operated by Freeport-McMoRan (FCX.US) and the other by Rio Tinto (RIO.US). The announcement noted that this order would apply to Freeport-McMoRan's smelter, but it is currently unclear what impact it will have on the Rio Tinto facility.
Both companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order designating copper as a critical material needed for defense, infrastructure, and emerging technologies, including clean energy and electric vehicles.
This order triggered a Section 232 investigation aimed at determining whether copper imports pose a threat to U.S. national security, especially considering the U.S. reliance on a few foreign suppliers.
Following the review, the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on certain imported copper and mandated that an increasing proportion of high-quality scrap copper produced domestically must be sold within the U.S
