Trump orders negotiations on wind turbine import rules citing security

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Oct. 22, 2026, directing the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate agreements with foreign trading partners over imports of wind turbines and their parts and components, citing national security concerns under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

The order follows a report by the Secretary of Commerce, which found that wind turbine imports, particularly components such as inverters, pose cybersecurity risks that could allow remote access to U.S. power systems. The report also cited concerns about radar interference affecting air traffic control, weather forecasting, and military operations.

The Commerce Secretary found that the U.S. relies heavily on foreign-produced wind turbine components and that domestic manufacturing capacity for certain parts, including blades, has not grown significantly over the past decade.

The Secretary also found that wind energy's intermittent nature requires grid operators to use fossil fuel backup generators to maintain grid stability, resulting in higher operational costs.

Under the order, the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative must provide at least one update on negotiation progress within 180 days. Trump noted that tariffs or other measures could be considered if negotiations do not produce results within that timeframe.

The order does not alter existing Section 232 tariffs on aluminum, steel, or copper, which already apply to certain wind turbine components under previous proclamations.

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