The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 50-per-cent tariff on copper imports could disrupt the global metals trade, particularly affecting Canada. The Post's Gabriel Friedman writes that the timeline for the tariff remains unclear, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicating it would be implemented before Aug. 1. The labour union representing workers at Canada's only copper smelter, Glencore's Horne Smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, expressed uncertainty about job impacts, with union president Kevin Gagnon remarking, "We're not at all certain that the tariffs on Canadian copper will go into effect." Citi analyst Tom Mulqueen suggested that Mr. Trump might ease the tariff for key partners like Canada. "Canada and the United States benefit from a robust and highly integrated copper supply chain, one that Glencore plays an active part in," company spokesman Charlie Watenphul said in a statement. "We continue to watch developments closely." Much of Canada's copper sector is shielded from the proposed tariff, as over 45 per cent of the copper produced in 2023 comes from B.C. mines that primarily export to Asia for processing.