The federal government is investigating the national security implications of importing medium and heavy-duty trucks and truck parts.
The Department of Commerce recently posted a notice in the Federals Register about plans to investigate “the effects on the national security of imports of medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and medium- and heavy-duty truck parts, and their derivative products.”
Industry stakeholders and others are invited to comment online on the following topics:
- The current and projected demand for trucks and truck parts in the United States
- The extent to which domestic production of trucks and truck parts can meet domestic demand
- The role of foreign supply chains, particularly of major exporters, in meeting United States demand for trucks and truck parts
- The concentration of United States imports of trucks and truck parts from a small number of suppliers and the associated risks
- The impact of foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices on the competitiveness of the medium- and heavy-duty truck industry in the United States
- The economic impact of artificially suppressed prices of trucks and truck parts due to foreign unfair trade practices and state-sponsored overproduction
- The potential for export restrictions by foreign nations, including the ability of foreign nations to weaponize their control over supplies of trucks and truck parts
- The feasibility of increasing domestic capacity for trucks and truck parts to reduce import reliance
- The impact of current trade policies on domestic production of trucks and truck parts, and whether additional measures, including tariffs or quotas, are necessary to protect national security
- Any other relevant factors
The Commerce Department said for the purpose of the investigation, “medium-duty trucks” means trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 and under 26,001 pounds. The term “heavy-duty trucks” means trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, according to the department.
The term “medium- and heavy-duty truck parts” refers to the individual components and systems of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, including engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts, and electrical components.
