Copper stalls

Melbourne : London Metal Exchange copper traded flat at $6,947 a tonne by 0254 GMT, after falling 0.8 percent in the previous session.

Shanghai Futures Exchange copper traded down 0.6 percent at 52,370 yuan ($8,275) a tonne.

Metals at risk of a tariff on U.S. imports largely recovered from steep falls on Thursday after an official said certain key partners could be exempt from duties allaying concerns over demand.

Concerns that the U.S. could slap down import tariffs on steel, impacting zinc, used in galvanised steel and nickel, used in stainless steel, as well as aluminium have dragged those metals in the past week.

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to offer Canada and Mexico a 30-day exemption from planned tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, which could be extended based on progress in NAFTA talks, a White House official said on Wednesday night.