SANTIAGO, July 28 (Reuters) - Chile expects U.S. copper

tariffs to be discussed within broader U.S. trade talks in

Washington this week, Finance Minister Mario Marcel said on

Monday in an interview with local radio program Duna.

Marcel added that Chile would ask for any tariffs to be

included within a broader trade agreement with the United

States. President Trump's administration has said it will impose

50% tariffs on copper imports as of August 1.

Chile is the world's top supplier of the red metal and is

also the biggest provider of refined copper to the U.S.,

although it sends much higher volumes to China.

Monday marks the start of a third round of talks between

Chilean officials and the office of the U.S. Trade

Representative.

"What we hope is that these conversations we're starting

today in Washington will also cover the issue of copper," Marcel

said. "Because it wouldn't be very useful for us to have a trade

agreement that excludes more than half of our exports to the

U.S., such as copper and wood."

When asked if Chile would seek an exemption to the U.S.

copper tariffs imposed by Trump, the minister said they would

seek for any tariffs to be included in a broader trade pact.

"We want it to be part of the agreement, within the

broader commercial discussions with Chile - not something

handled separately - because it's a very central issue," the

minister said.

Marcel noted that other countries have included

exemptions and carve-outs in their trade agreements.