Goldman Sachs(US:GS) Wen Hua Cai Jing·2026-01-16 02:04Group 1 - Goldman Sachs reports that LME copper prices have surged 23% since November, exceeding $13,000, driven primarily by speculative capital inflows rather than fundamental factors [2] - The recent price increase is not attributed to the strengthening dollar, expectations of Chinese economic growth, or supply tightness outside the U.S., despite rising inventories in the U.S. and abroad [2] - Goldman Sachs correctly predicted that copper tariffs would not be announced alongside the critical minerals order signed on January 14 under Section 232, which retains the possibility of future tariffs [2] Group 2 - Goldman Sachs maintains its baseline forecast that refined copper tariffs will be announced mid-year and implemented by January 2027, indicating a shift away from relying solely on tariffs for metal supply security [3] - China's copper industry faces three major challenges: increasing dependence on foreign resources, overcapacity in the midstream processing sector, and suppressed downstream demand due to high copper prices [4]