METALS-Trump tariff uncertainty weighs on base metals

SHANGHAI, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Most base metals declined in rangebound trade on Wednesday as uncertainty persisted over U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for tariffs.

Trump said late on Tuesday that his administration was discussing imposing a 10% tariff on goods imported from China on Feb. 1, the same day that he previously said Mexico and Canada would face levies of around 25%. He also vowed duties on European imports without providing further details.

"Investors are grappling with the unpredictability of President Trump's tariff policies. The looming threat of a retaliatory trade war could significantly undermine market sentiment," a trader said.

The dollar drifted slightly lower in indecisive trading. The greenback index was last at 108.11, down 0.04% from Tuesday, and slightly below the 26-month high of 110.17 touched last week.

A weaker dollar makes greenback-priced commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Three-month copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange (LME) slid 0.4% to $9,252 a metric ton by 0150 GMT.

LME aluminium CMAL3 eased 0.2% to $2,642, tin CMSN3 lost 0.1% to $30,200, nickel CMNI3 fell 0.1% to $15,960, lead CMPB3 shed 0.5% to $1,961 and zinc CMZN3 was unchanged at $2,914.

The most-active copper contract on the SHFE SCFcv1 was unchanged at 75,640 yuan ($10,391.68) a ton.

SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 fell 0.5% to 20,335 yuan a ton, nickel SNIcv1 fell 0.6% to 127,260 yuan, zinc SZNcv1 slid 0.4% to 24,160 yuan, lead SPBcv1 lost 0.8% to 16,645 yuan and tin SSNcv1 lost 0.7% to 249,750 yuan.

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(Reporting by Violet Li and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

((Violet.Li@thomsonreuters.com;))

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