Comment Deadlines Approaching for Semiconductors and Critical Minerals
The U.S. Department of Commerce has two active Section 232 national-security investigations open for public comment. The public comment period closes today, May 7, for semiconductors while the industry has until May 16 to submit comments for critical minerals.
- Comment Deadline: May 7, 2025
- Scope: Chips, wafers, substrates, legacy and leading-edge devices, and related production equipment. It also includes downstream products “that contain semiconductors.”
- Comment Deadline: May 16, 2025
- Scope: Refined or processed lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, rhodium, and dozens of other minerals – which can be found here. It also includes derivate products, which is broadly defined as “goods that incorporate process critical minerals as inputs.”
Why This Matters
Semiconductors power onboard electronics and propulsion controls, while critical minerals are essential for lithium-ion batteries, engine catalysts, and other marine components. The outcomes of these investigations may lead to new tariffs, quotas or other remedies.
How to Participate
Interested stakeholders can submit written comments through Regulations.gov using the docket links provided in each Federal Register notice. Comments may address import volumes, domestic capacity, supply-chain vulnerabilities, or any other information relevant to national security under Section 232.
NMMA is preparing sector-specific comments and will track both investigations as they progress. Members with data or perspectives to share are encouraged to contact Clay Crabtree, Senior Director of Public Policy at [email protected] to shape NMMA’s filings. We will provide further updates when the Commerce Department announces public-hearing dates or preliminary findings.