What Happened in Markets Today Copper prices—and mining stocks—rose after Trump confirmed a 50% tariff on the metal will take effect Aug. 1. Prices for the [metal hit record highs](

President Trump is amping up trade threats, again unveiling a new batch of letters to country leaders outlining tariffs on goods imported from their countries beginning in August and a warning to BRICS nations.

Brazil scrambles to respond to Trump's 50% tariffs Reports out of Brazil have said the country scrambled to respond to President Trump's announcement of 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports.

US President Donald Trump announced a 50 percent tariff Wednesday targeting Brazil as he blasted the trial of the country’s ex-leader, and said a US “national security” levy on copper would begin in August.

The copper market does not appear to think Trump is going to chicken out on his 50 per cent tariffs on the red metal. The copper price rose 13 per cent when the levy was announced — reflecting, presumably, a rush to build US inventories ahead of the tariff’s implementation — and has stayed there. And that’s even after rising steadily for months:

Stock indexes edged higher on Thursday, with investors weighing the latest trade announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump, while the Brazilian real recovered some losses following Trump's announcement of a 50% tariff on goods from Brazil.