Reminder: Comments for Section 232 Investigation into Critical Minerals Due May 16
The U.S. Department of Commerce is accepting public comments by May 16, 2025, as part of its ongoing Section 232 national security investigation into imports of critical minerals and derivative products.
The investigation examines whether current volumes and sourcing of imported refined or processed lithium, nickel, cobalt, rare earth elements, graphite and related downstream compounds pose a threat to U.S. national security. A full list of the critical minerals can be found here.
Critical minerals are vital to many industries, including marine manufacturing, where they support lithium-ion batteries, electric propulsion systems, engine catalysts, onboard electronics, and other many other products and parts. Like other Section 232 investigations, the outcome could result in new tariffs, quotas or other trade measures that may impact material costs and supply chain strategies.
Interested stakeholders can submit written comments through Regulations.gov using the docket links provided in each Federal Register notice or submit directly here. 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 this investigation as it progresses. Members with data or perspectives to share are encouraged to contact Clay Crabtree, Senior Director of Public Policy at [email protected] for potential inclusion in NMMA’s filings. We will provide further updates when the Commerce Department announces public hearing dates or preliminary findings.