On Thursday, January 11, the U.S. Department of Commerce formally submitted to the President the results of its investigation into the effect of steel mill product imports on U.S. National Security. The President now has 90 days to decide on any action on steel imports.

This investigation was initiated last year under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Commerce had 270 days to make its recommendations to the President. Initially, the President called for the report to be completed by June 30. However the administration decided to allow to extend that time and for the report to be completed in the full 270 days allowed by the statute.

Commerce will also be submitting their Section 232 report on Aluminum imports to the President in the coming days. Husch Blackwell will continue to monitor any ensuing changes in the Section 232 investigations and trade policy.