METALS-London copper eases as tariff concerns weigh, soft dollar limits fall

NEW DELHI, May 22 (Reuters) - Copper prices in London edged lower on Thursday as uncertainty over U.S. tariffs on the metal weighed on sentiment, although a weaker dollar limited the fall.

Benchmark copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was down 0.3% at $9,508 a metric ton, as of 0707 GMT.

The dollar weakened against a broad swathe of currencies on Wednesday, pressured by concerns over the Trump administration's tax cuts and spending plans. A softer dollar makes greenback-priced commodities less expensive for buyers holding other currencies. USD/

Last week, the U.S. and China agreed to reduce tit-for-tat tariffs and implement a 90-day pause on actions but there is still uncertainty on what will follow after the temporary truce.

"The copper market faces a split trajectory due to the looming U.S. 25% import tariff, creating stark regional imbalances," consultancy BigMint said.

"Global prices (LME: $9,500/ton) are caught between rising U.S. stockpiles and tightening supplies elsewhere."

Among other London metals, aluminium CMAL3 was up 0.2% at $2,477 a ton, zinc CMZN3 was down 0.9% to $2,670, lead CMPB3 eased 1.2% to $1,950.5 and nickel CMNI3 was down 0.6% to $15,510. Tin CMSN3 eased 1.3% to $32,430.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) eased 0.2% to 77,920 yuan ($10,817.41) per ton.

SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 was up 0.2% at 20,210 yuan a ton, zinc SZNcv1 eased 0.6% to 22,455 yuan, lead SPBcv1 was down 1.2% to 16,670 yuan, nickel SNIcv1 edged up 0.03% to 123,400 yuan, and tin SSNcv1 fell 0.9% to 264,780 yuan.

($1 = 7.2032 yuan)

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