On April 26, 2017, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Technology Evaluation, U.S. Department of Commerce published in the Federal Register a notice that the Secretary of Commerce initiated an investigation on April 19, 2017, to determine the effects on the national security of imports of steel. On April 20, 2017, the President signed Memorandum of April 20, 2017 on Steel Imports and Threats to National Security directing the Secretary to proceed expeditiously in conducting his investigation and submit a report on his findings to the President.
This investigation has been initiated under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. It is being is being undertaken in accordance with part 705 of the National Security Industrial Base Regulations (15 C.F.R. parts 700 to 709) (NSIBR).Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, data, analyses, or other information pertinent to the investigation to BIS. Commerce will also hold a public hearing on the investigation on May 24, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The Federal Register notice identifies the issues listed below on which Commerce is interested in obtaining the public’s views. It also sets forth the procedures for public participation in the hearing and submission of written responses.
Commerce is particularly interested in comments and information directed to the criteria listed in § 705.4 of the NSIBR as they affect national security, including the following:
- Quantity of steel or other circumstances related to the importation of steel;
- Domestic production and productive capacity needed for steel to meet projected national defense requirements;
- Existing and anticipated availability of human resources, products, raw materials, production equipment, and facilities to produce steel;
- Growth requirements of the steel industry to meet national defense requirements and/or requirements to assure such growth;
- The impact of foreign competition on the economic welfare of the steel industry;
- The displacement of any domestic steel causing substantial unemployment, decrease in the revenues of government, loss of investment or specialized skills and productive capacity, or other serious effects;
- The displacement of any domestic steel causing substantial unemployment, decrease in the revenues of government, loss of investment or specialized skills and productive capacity, or other serious effects;
- Relevant factors that are causing or will cause a weakening of our national economy; and
- Any other relevant factors.
Comments may be submitted at any time but must be received by May 31, 2017.
