NEW YORK, June 1: The US duty on imports of refined copper from Chile likely will be eliminated quickly when Chile and the US resume delayed free trade talks, the US Commerce Department said this week.

In my view, the duty on copper will be eliminated. There is absolutely no question about that. There will be no copper duty between us and Chile, said Robert Reiley, director at the Commerce Department Office of Metals, Material and Chemicals.

Reiley said in a speech on Thursday at the American Metal Market 2002 Copper Forum in New York, the one-per cent tariff on high-grade copper cathode from Chile will probably be removed within two years.

Talks have been on hold while Congress wraps up negotiations on the US “trade promotion authority” bill, known as “fast track,” Reiley said. The US-Chile trade talks hinge on the Bush administration winning trade negotiating authority, he added.

Reiley told Reuters on the sidelines of the copper forum he has been closely involved in talks on the ad valorem copper duty.—Reuters