UNDERSTANDING SECTION 232 OF THE U.S. TRADE EXPANSION ACT

Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the U.S. President to impose import restrictions to protect U.S. national security.

1. Under Section 232, the Commerce Department initially conducts an investigation to determine the effects of imports on U.S. 'national security'.

2.  The term 'national security' is not defined, although Commerce has indicated in past Section 232 investigations that a threat to U.S. national security can arise either:

(i) by fostering U.S. dependence on unreliable or unsafe imports;