US President Donald Trump declared imports of wind turbines a threat to national security on Thursday. He said, "Given wind energy’s intermittent reliability, use of wind energy diverts the United States electrical grid from more reliable energy sources." Trump ordered officials to negotiate with trading partners instead of imposing immediate tariffs.
WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump on Thursday declared imports of wind turbines and their components a threat to national security, but stopped short of imposing new tariffs on the sector.
In a White House proclamation, Trump said a Commerce Department investigation found that imported wind turbines threatened national security due to cybersecurity concerns tied to foreign-made equipment, interference with radar systems and air traffic operations, and an increased US reliance on goods made overseas.
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The move responds to a probe launched in August 2025 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. It is one of numerous trade investigations the administration has conducted into the national security ramifications of imports across an array of sectors.
Instead of ordering immediate trade restrictions, Trump directed trade officials to pursue negotiations with trading partners and report back within 180 days.
The order repeats Trump's longstanding criticism of wind energy as being unreliable because it is intermittent.
"Given wind energy’s intermittent reliability, use of wind energy diverts the United States electrical grid from more reliable energy sources," the order said.
Major suppliers of wind turbines and components to the United States include Mexico, France, India, Denmark and Germany, according to trade data cited by the center-right think tank American Action Forum.
A spokesperson for the American Clean Power Association, a trade group representing clean energy companies, was not immediately available for comment.