SANTIAGO – A trade war between the US and China is depressing the price of copper and the red metal would be 5% to 15% higher without the dispute, the chairperson for Chile's Antofagasta told a Chilean newspaper on Sunday.
"Without the commercial war, I am convinced that the price of copper would be between $3.20 and $3.50/lb," Jean-Paul Luksic said in an interview with El Mercurio.
Despite a rebound on Friday on hopes of an agreement between Washington and Beijing, the value of copper registered its fourth consecutive weekly decline. It is currently about $3/lb.
Luksic said that the market has good prospects, but the red metal is hurting more than it should be.
The bruising trade war, which has slowed the global economy, is clouding the outlook for demand from top metals consumer China.
"As long as this uncertainty persists, the low prices will continue," said Luksic, who will also lead the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Santiago this year.