(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The Commerce Department opened a Section
232 investigation into whether imports of certain parts used in electrical
transformer equipment constitutes a national security risk and should be
subject to trade restrictions.
The probe comes under the same law used to impose tariffs on
steel and aluminum imports and came after requests from members of Congress and
domestic industry, Commerce said. "An assured domestic supply of these
products enables the United States to respond to large power disruptions
affecting civilian populations, critical infrastructure, and U.S. defense
industrial production capabilities," the department said.
The order follows Friday's executive order prohibiting U.S.
electric utilities from installing grid devices from foreign manufacturers that
could threaten national security.
