U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of a 50% tariff on copper imports is raising alarm in the U.S. auto sector, as it could make it even harder for carmakers and suppliers to absorb border taxes and rising costs,

Prices of copper in the US have surged since January, when President Donald Trump threatened to impose a tariff on imports of the metal that’s a vital component in power networks, plumbing and industrial machinery.

The president was following through on an earlier statement that he would target a key metal used for semiconductors, lithium-ion batteries and more.