Copper and Silver futures prices in New York have soared above international benchmark prices, with traders ramping up bets that Trump will impose high import tariffs on these two metals. Silver Futures on the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX) for the nearest delivery on Thursday were priced at more than a $0.80 per ounce premium to London spot silver, nearing December's peak. COMEX Copper for the nearest delivery also had a premium of $623 per ton over LME's same period copper, close to the record levels during last year's historic short squeeze that shook the Global Copper market. Since last year, traders have been scrambling to ship Copper to USA warehouses to profit from the surge in prices. A similar situation has been unfolding since the rise in New York's silver prices. Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, stated: "At the beginning of this year, investors around the world are seeking protection against tricky and possibly rising inflation, fiscal debt concerns, and Trump's unpredictability." The explosion in COMEX prices "is undoubtedly part of the story of Trump's unpredictability."