Section 232 Investigations

A Section 232 investigation is conducted under the authority of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. The purpose of the investigation is to determine the effect of imports on the national security. Investigations may be initiated based on an application from an interested party, a request from the head of any department or agency, or may be self-initiated by the Secretary of Commerce.

The Secretary’s report to the President, prepared within 270 days of initiation, focuses on whether the importation of the article in question is in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security. The President can concur or not with the Secretary’s recommendations, and take action to “adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives” or other non-trade related actions as deemed necessary.

Want to learn more about Section 232 investigations? Download a Section 232 booklet in Adobe Acrobat format, which provides an explanation of the law and regulations, as well as provides a brief history of every case conducted under this authority.

Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Exclusions:

Section 232 Steel Exclusions Page

Section 232 Aluminum Exclusions Page

Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Exclusions FAQs

Completed Reports:

The Effect of Imports of Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) Permanent Magnets on the National Security – September 2022 / FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Further Actions to Secure Rare Earth Element Supply Chain

The Effect of Imports of Vanadium on the National Security – February 2021

The Effect of Imports of Laminations for Stacked Cores for Incorporation into Transformers, Stacked Cores for Incorporation Into Transformers, Wound Cores for Incorporation Into Transformers, Electrical Transformers, and Transformer Regulators on the National Security – October 2020

The Effect of Imports of Titanium Sponge on the National Security – November 2019

The Effect of Imports of Uranium on the National Security – April 2019

The Effect of Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts on the National Security – February 2019/The Effect of Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts on the National Security Appendices B through H – February 2019 (ITA)

The Effect of Imports of Steel on the National Security – Jan. 2018