The US government's initiation of an investigation into wind turbines may pave the way for additional tariffs

The US government has launched an investigation into imported wind turbines and their components. This move may pave the way for further tariffs on these clean energy components.

According to a notice released by the US Department of Commerce on Thursday (August 21), it launched a national security investigation last Wednesday (August 13) to assess whether imported wind energy-related products have harmed national security and weakened domestic production capacity.

This week, the Ministry of Commerce announced that wind turbines and related components would be included in the list of products subject to the 50% steel and aluminum tariff.

Bloomberg quoted energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie as saying that the U.S. wind power industry is highly dependent on imports for components such as blades, drive systems and electrical systems. In 2023, the total import value of wind power equipment in the United States reached 1.7 billion US dollars, of which 41% came from Mexico, Canada and China.

US President Trump and his administration have repeatedly attacked wind energy, claiming that turbines have damaged the landscape of some golf courses and groundlessly accusing them of causing the deaths of birds and whales.

Trump said on Wednesday (the 20th) that the United States will not approve any solar or wind energy projects that damage farmland because these projects push up energy prices. On his first day in office, he indefinitely suspended new offshore wind power leases and halted the approval of all wind power projects on federal land and waters.

Thursday's announcement included wind power in the list of potential taxable industries under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which authorizes the president to control imported products considered a threat to national security.

Trump had previously announced additional tariffs on steel, aluminium, copper and automobiles.