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Geopolitical Events - Copper Timeline

Explore geopolitical events that impacted copper prices from 1971 to 2024.

  1. Geopolitical Events

    U.S.-China Trade War Begins

    President Trump imposed tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods, marking the start of the U.S.-China trade war. China immediately retaliated with matching tariffs. The escalating conflict disrupted global supply chains, slowed economic growth, and created sustained uncertainty. Gold rallied from $1,250/oz to $1,550/oz over 14 months as investors hedged against economic slowdown and currency devaluation. Industrial metals like copper suffered from reduced manufacturing demand.

    gold
    +24%14 months$1,550/oz in Aug 2019
    copper
    -18%12 monthsFrom $3.30/lb to $2.70/lb
    View Gold ChartSources: U.S. Trade Representative, LME

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