By Jamie Hyland for MiningIR in partnership with The Prospector News
As the Trump administration considers a sweeping 50% tariff on copper imports, the move has ignited a debate across the mining sector about its intended and unintended consequences. In a recent interview with Michael Fox of The Prospector News, Adam Hawkins, President of Global External, offered sharp insights into how the proposed policy could reshape the landscape for domestic copper production — and the challenges that lie ahead.
Global External specializes in helping mining companies navigate “above-ground risks” — the social, political, and regulatory hurdles that often prove more formidable than the geology itself. Hawkins explains that the administration’s aim is clear: reduce U.S. reliance on foreign copper, particularly from China, which dominates global smelting and has gained market leverage through aggressive trade practices.
Yet, as Hawkins points out, turning that aspiration into reality is far more complicated than imposing a tariff.
“A 50% import tax might sound like a bold solution,” he notes, “but it risks crushing low-margin U.S. mining operations already struggling with labor shortages, permitting delays, and environmental compliance costs.”
Indeed, expanding hard rock mining in the U.S. is no simple feat. Hawkins outlines the multifaceted barriers to growth: a shortage of skilled labor, an overburdened permitting process, supply chain fragility, and the challenge of building modern smelters in an environmentally compliant and socially acceptable way.
A key point of contention is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which Hawkins criticizes for enabling protracted litigation through mechanisms like the Equal Access to Justice Act. “In contrast, Canada offers a more streamlined permitting and litigation framework,” he adds, suggesting that the U.S. could learn from its northern neighbor.
Even if the tariff drives investment into domestic projects, Hawkins warns, the payoff won’t be immediate. Projects like Resolution Copper — which he’s been involved in for decades — show how long it takes to move from discovery to production in the U.S. mining environment. “These are generational projects,” he stresses, “and they don’t align easily with short-term political cycles.”
Hawkins also calls attention to the misalignment between political timelines and strategic industrial planning. China, he explains, has operated with decades-long foresight to secure metal supply chains, while U.S. policies tend to fluctuate with electoral cycles. This disconnect could blunt the impact of otherwise well-intentioned reforms.
Still, he remains cautiously optimistic. There’s a growing recognition in Washington of the need to streamline permitting and promote investment. And with copper demand accelerating — driven by the rise of AI, EVs, and electrification — the opportunity to build a resilient domestic supply chain has never been more urgent.
Reshoring production, Hawkins insists, doesn’t have to come at the cost of human rights or environmental integrity. Countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia can serve as reliable, responsible sources of copper — if the political will and regulatory flexibility exist.
The interview closes with a shared understanding between Hawkins and Fox: tariffs alone won’t fix America’s copper problem. But if they spark a broader conversation about permitting reform, infrastructure investment, and long-term strategic planning, they might serve as a catalyst for a more self-reliant and sustainable future.
“This is about more than just metal,” Hawkins concludes. “It’s about building middle-class jobs, securing our industrial base, and reclaiming control over our critical supply chains.”
For more industry insights, visit MiningIR.com and TheProspectorNews.com.
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