United States · Enacted legislation
US starts wind-turbine Section 232 negotiations without new tariff
On 22 October 2026, the US President issued a proclamation directing trade negotiations after concurring with a Section 232 finding on wind-turbine imports, but the proclamation imposed no new tariff or import restriction.
- Official document:
- Presidential Proclamation of 22 October 2026 under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962
- Development date:
- 2026-10-22
The President concurred with the Commerce Secretary's finding that wind turbines and their components and subcomponents are imported under circumstances that threaten to impair US national security. The initial action is a negotiation plan: the Commerce Secretary and US Trade Representative must jointly pursue or continue agreements with trading partners they consider appropriate. At least one progress update is due within 180 days, and Commerce must keep the covered imports under review.[1]
The proclamation does not create a wind-turbine tariff
The operative clauses do not add an HTSUS provision, duty rate, quota or country list for wind products. They also state that the proclamation does not modify existing Section 232 tariffs under the steel, aluminium and copper proclamations or any other Section 232 tariff. The President may consider alternative remedies later, including if an agreement is not concluded within 180 days or proves ineffective, but that possibility is not a present import charge.[1]
The action follows the 2025 Commerce investigation
Commerce opened the wind-turbine investigation on 13 August 2025 under 19 USC 1862. Its public-comments notice covered complete wind turbines and a broad range of parts and components, including blades, hubs, towers, nacelles, generators, gearboxes, transformers, electrical components and related manufacturing equipment. The 2026 proclamation says the Secretary has now reported that reliance on imported components and subcomponents creates national-security concerns and recommended a range of actions.[1][2]
Importers should monitor negotiations, not book a new duty
Groups sourcing wind-energy equipment should keep applying any existing product-specific Section 232 treatment, including where steel, aluminium or copper measures already reach a component. They should not treat the 22 October proclamation itself as a new wind-turbine tariff. Procurement and landed-cost models should instead identify exposed products and countries, then track negotiated agreements, any later presidential remedy and implementing customs instructions before changing duty assumptions.[1][2]
Official sources
- [1] Adjusting Imports of Wind Turbines and Their Parts and Components into the United States
The White House · Document date: 2026-10-22
Full proclamation read. Paragraphs 1-10 record the Commerce investigation, findings and existing steel, aluminium and copper treatment. Paragraphs 11-15 and operative clauses 1-5 direct negotiations, require at least one update within 180 days, preserve monitoring and expressly leave all existing Section 232 tariffs unchanged. Signed 22 October 2026.
- [2] Notice of Request for Public Comments on Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Wind Turbines and Their Parts and Components
US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security · Document date: 2025-08-25
Full Federal Register notice read. Summary and Background identify the 13 August 2025 initiation under section 232; Scope of Investigation lists complete turbines and representative components and manufacturing equipment.