U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to investigate how copper imports threaten America's national security and economic stability, in a move that could lead to the imposition of new tariffs on the metal used to produce aircraft,

US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation of copper imports in what is a first step toward potential tariffs on the metal. Administration officials said the White House wanted to find ways to boost US production of copper, a component used to make electric cars, ships and data centres that they said was vital to national security.

President Trump ordered Commerce to study whether tariffs are needed to reduce the U.S. reliance upon imported copper, needed for military equipment, data centers and electric vehicles.