Commerce Department to investigate imports of pharmaceuticals, semiconductors

The Department of Commerce yesterday released notices announcing national security investigations on imports of pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients and semiconductors. The investigations are being conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which authorizes the President to impose tariffs or other trade restrictions if an investigation determines that importation of particular goods affect national security. Those goods have received exemptions from tariffs on imported goods that began April 5. The agency will accept comments on domestic production, the role of foreign supply chains, the impacts of trade policy and other information related to pharmaceutical and semiconductor imports for 21 days following publication in the April 16 Federal Register.