[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 39 (Friday, February 28, 2025)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 11001-11003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03439]



[[Page 10999]]

Vol. 90

Friday,

No. 39

February 28, 2025

Part II





The President





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Executive Order 14220--Addressing the Threat to National Security From 
Imports of Copper



Executive Order 14221--Making America Healthy Again by Empowering 
Patients With Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing 
Information


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 90 , No. 39 / Friday, February 28, 2025 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 11001]]

                Executive Order 14220 of February 25, 2025

                
Addressing the Threat to National Security From 
                Imports of Copper

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion 
                Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (Trade 
                Expansion Act), it is hereby ordered:

                Section 1. Policy. Copper is a critical material 
                essential to the national security, economic strength, 
                and industrial resilience of the United States. Copper, 
                scrap copper, and copper's derivative products play a 
                vital role in defense applications, infrastructure, and 
                emerging technologies, including clean energy, electric 
                vehicles, and advanced electronics. The United States 
                faces significant vulnerabilities in the copper supply 
                chain, with increasing reliance on foreign sources for 
                mined, smelted, and refined copper.

                The United States has ample copper reserves, yet our 
                smelting and refining capacity lags significantly 
                behind global competitors. A single foreign producer 
                dominates global copper smelting and refining, 
                controlling over 50 percent of global smelting capacity 
                and holding four of the top five largest refining 
                facilities. This dominance, coupled with global 
                overcapacity and a single producer's control of world 
                supply chains, poses a direct threat to United States 
                national security and economic stability.

                It is the policy of the United States to ensure a 
                reliable, secure, and resilient domestic copper supply 
                chain. The United States' increasing dependence on 
                foreign sources of copper, particularly from a 
                concentrated number of supplier nations, along with the 
                risk of foreign market manipulation, necessitate action 
                under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to 
                determine whether imports of copper, scrap copper, and 
                copper's derivative products threaten to impair 
                national security.

                Sec. 2. Investigation Into the National Security Impact 
                of Copper Imports. (a) The Secretary of Commerce shall 
                initiate an investigation under section 232 of the 
                Trade Expansion Act to determine the effects on 
                national security of imports of copper in all forms, 
                including but not limited to:

(i) raw mined copper;

(ii) copper concentrates;

(iii) refined copper;

(iv) copper alloys;

(v) scrap copper; and

(vi) derivative products.

                    (b) In conducting the investigation described in 
                subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of 
                Commerce shall assess the factors set forth in 19 
                U.S.C. 1862(d), labeled ``Domestic production for 
                national defense; impact of foreign competition on 
                economic welfare of domestic industries,'' as well as 
                other relevant factors, including:

(i) the current and projected demand for copper in United States defense, 
energy, and critical infrastructure sectors;

(ii) the extent to which domestic production, smelting, refining, and 
recycling can meet demand;

[[Page 11002]]

(iii) the role of foreign supply chains, particularly from major exporters, 
in meeting United States demand;

(iv) the concentration of United States copper imports from a small number 
of suppliers and the associated risks;

(v) the impact of foreign government subsidies, overcapacity, and predatory 
trade practices on United States industry competitiveness;

(vi) the economic impact of artificially suppressed copper prices due to 
dumping and state-sponsored overproduction;

(vii) the potential for export restrictions by foreign nations, including 
the ability of foreign nations to weaponize their control over refined 
copper supplies;

(viii) the feasibility of increasing domestic copper mining, smelting, and 
refining capacity to reduce import reliance; and

(ix) the impact of current trade policies on domestic copper production and 
whether additional measures, including tariffs or quotas, are necessary to 
protect national security.

                Sec. 3. Required Actions. (a) The Secretary of Commerce 
                shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the 
                Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Energy, and 
                the heads of other relevant executive departments and 
                agencies as determined by the Secretary of Commerce to 
                evaluate the national security risks associated with 
                copper import dependency.

                    (b) Within 270 days of the date of this order, the 
                Secretary of Commerce shall submit a report to the 
                President that includes:

(i) findings on whether United States dependence on copper imports 
threatens national security;

(ii) recommendations on actions to mitigate such threats, including 
potential tariffs, export controls, or incentives to increase domestic 
production; and

(iii) policy recommendations for strengthening the United States copper 
supply chain through strategic investments, permitting reforms, and 
enhanced recycling initiatives.

                Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or 
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.

[[Page 11003]]

                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    February 25, 2025.

[FR Doc. 2025-03439
Filed 2-27-25; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P