BUTTE – The Trump administration’s tariffs on steel and aluminum could have an effect on Butte’s mining industry.
Officials with Montana Resources in Butte said the tariffs will not affect copper exports with China, which is the company’s biggest customer.
However, the tariffs are expected to increase the price of mining rods that the company buys from Canada.
“We spend about $175,000 a month on the rods, so we potentially could see a 25% increase in the rods,” said Mike McGivern of Montana Resources.
While this is a small part of the company’s overall expenses, the increase could force the company to look at other places to buy the rods at a cheaper cost.
