BIS Seeks Public Comments on Section 232 Investigations of Imports of Copper and Lumber

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued Federal Register notices announcing that interested parties may submit written comments, data or other information pertinent to these investigations. Comments are due no later than April 1, 2025.

Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Copper

This investigation was initiated on February 25, 2025 (see Thompson Hine Update of February 25, 2025). BIS Issued a Notice on March 13, 2025 announcing that it was seeking public comments. BIS is particularly interested in comments addressing the following: (i) the current and projected demand for copper in U.S. defense, energy, and critical infrastructure sectors; (ii) the extent to which domestic production, smelting, refining, and recycling can meet demand; (iii) the role of foreign supply chains, particularly from major exporters, in meeting U.S. demand; (iv) the concentration of U.S. copper imports from a small number of suppliers and the associated risks; (v) the impact of foreign government subsidies, overcapacity, and predatory trade practices on U.S. industry competitiveness; (vi) the economic impact of artificially suppressed copper prices due to dumping and state-sponsored overproduction; (vii) the potential for export restrictions by foreign nations, including the ability of foreign nations to weaponize their control over refined copper supplies; (viii) the feasibility of increasing domestic copper mining, smelting, and refining capacity to reduce import reliance; and (ix) the impact of current trade policies on domestic copper production and whether additional measures, including tariffs or quotas, are necessary to protect national security. Comments must be submitted via the Federal rulemaking portal at: www.regulations.gov. The Docket ID no. for this notice is BIS– 2025–0010, and submitters must refer to X–RIN 0694– XC116 in all comments.

Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Timber and Lumber

This investigation was initiated on March 1, 2025 (see Thompson Hine Update of March 3, 2025). BIS issued a Notice on March 13, 2025 announcing that it was seeking public comments. BIS is particularly interested in comments addressing the following: (i) the current and projected demand for timber and lumber in the United States; (ii) the extent to which domestic production of timber and lumber can meet domestic demand; (iii) the role of foreign supply chains, particularly of major exporters, in meeting U.S. timber and lumber demand; (iv) the impact of foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices on U.S. timber, lumber, and derivative product industry competitiveness; (v) the feasibility of increasing domestic timber and lumber capacity to reduce imports; (vi) the impact of current trade policies on domestic timber, lumber, and derivative product production, and whether additional measures, including tariffs or quotas, are necessary to protect national security; and (vii) any other relevant factors. Comments must be submitted via the Federal rulemaking portal at: www.regulations.gov. The Docket ID no. for this notice is BIS– 2025–0011, and submitters must refer to X–RIN 0694– XC117 in all comments.