The U.S. Department of Commerce initiated an investigation into how wind turbines and related components may impact U.S. national security on Aug. 13, 2025, according to an Aug. 21, 2025, notice sent to the Federal Register. The Department of Commerce is also seeking public comment by Sept. 9, 2025 (based on an indicated publication date in the Federal Register of Aug. 25, 2025).
The Department of Commerce initiated the investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and part 705 of the National Security Industrial Base Regulations (15 CFR parts 700 to 709). The law authorizes the president to “adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives” or other actions as deemed necessary.
Though any comments may be filed, the Department of Commerce seeks input on the following points as they impact national security:
“(i) the current and projected demand for wind turbines and their parts and components in the United States;
(ii) the extent to which domestic production of wind turbines and their parts and components can meet domestic demand;
(iii) the role of foreign supply chains, particularly of major exporters, in meeting United States demand for wind turbines and their parts and components;
(iv) the concentration of U.S. imports of wind turbines and their parts and components from a small number of suppliers or foreign nations and the associated risks;
(v) the impact of foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices on the competitiveness of the wind turbines and their parts and components industry, in the United States;
(vi) the economic impact of artificially suppressed prices of wind turbines and their parts and components due to foreign unfair trade practices and state-sponsored overproduction;
(vii) the potential for export restrictions by foreign nations, including the ability of foreign nations to weaponize their control over supplies of wind turbines and their parts and components;
(viii) the feasibility of increasing domestic capacity for wind turbines and their parts and components to reduce import reliance;
(ix) the impact of current trade policies on domestic production of wind turbines and their parts and components, and whether additional measures, including tariffs or quotas, are necessary to protect national security;
(x) the potential for foreign control or exploitation of the wind turbine supply chain;
(xi) the ability of foreign persons to weaponize the capabilities or attributes of foreign built wind turbines and their parts or components; and
(xii) any other relevant factors.”
Interested parties can submit written comments, data or analyses to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security.
This investigation comes on the heels of the Department of Commerce’s Aug. 19, 2025, announcement that wind turbines and their components will be included under the existing Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. This action immediately subjects turbines and their components to a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum content, further raising the stakes for industry stakeholders.
