The U.S. Department of Commerce is investigating the impact of imports such as drones and polysilicon, a material used in semiconductors and solar panels, on national security. The possibility of imposing tariffs in the future is also being raised.
On the 14th (local time), Reuters reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce began its related investigation on the 1st of this month based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The investigation targets include finished goods and parts of drones, as well as polysilicon, a key material used in the manufacture of semiconductors and solar panels.
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act allows for tariffs to be imposed if certain imports are deemed to threaten U.S. national security. Previously, this provision was applied to steel and aluminum, resulting in high tariffs being imposed.
This investigation is interpreted as part of measures to reduce dependence on Chinese products and protect the supply chains of key industries. There are industry forecasts that it may not be possible to rule out the possibility of new tariffs on these items depending on the results of the investigation.