Peru Seeks Talks with U.S. Over Proposed Copper Tariffs
Peru is preparing to send a delegation to meet with U.S. officials following the Trump administration’s announcement of potential copper tariffs that could impact Peru’s largest export product.
“The rules of the game are changing quickly under the new North American administration,” Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero said in Lima on Monday. Peru aims to protect its economic interests and mitigate the impact of any restrictive U.S. trade measures.
As the world’s third-largest copper supplier, Peru exports some of its semi-processed copper to the U.S., though most is shipped to Chinese smelters. The U.S. mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc. operates Cerro Verde, one of Peru’s largest copper mines.
Montero did not elaborate on whether other Peruvian exports, such as blueberries and table grapes, might also face U.S. tariffs.
“Peru is a strategic business ally of the U.S., but not exclusively,” Montero stated. “We are a non-aligned country, open to investments and trade with all partners, without committing to any single geopolitical vision.”
The upcoming talks in Washington will be crucial in determining how Peru navigates new U.S. trade policies while maintaining its export-driven economy.
