Copper shipments into the United States are expected to accelerate in the coming weeks in a final scramble to get metal across the border before U.S. President Donald Trump's higher than expected 50% tariff on imported copper takes effect.

In a fresh string of announcements on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump mentioned sectors that can become part of his new tariff plans. The Trump administration is planning to impose 50% tariffs on copper imports and up to 200% duties on the pharmaceutical sector.

The U.S. president has threatened a 10 percent tariff on any country aligned with the BRICS bloc, a potential blow to Russia.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had approved sending U.S. defensive weapons to Ukraine and was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, underscoring his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the growing death toll in Russia's war with Ukraine.