The purpose of this order is to ensure that the United States has a reliable, secure and resilient domestic copper supply chain. The order recites that copper is a critical material essential to the national security, economic strength and industrial resilience of the United States and expresses concern that a single foreign producer (China) dominates global copper smelting and refining and controls over 50% of global smelting capacity.

The order directs the secretary of commerce to conduct an investigation under the Trade Expansion Act to determine the effects on national security of imports of copper in all forms. Within 270 days of the date of the order of the secretary of commerce shall submit a report to the president that includes findings on whether the United States’ dependence on copper imports threatens national security, recommendations on actions to mitigate such threats and policy recommendations for strengthening the United States copper supply chain.