Two separate probes were launched on July 1, targeting unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and polysilicon—an essential material in solar energy production. The investigations fall under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which allows the president to levy tariffs on imports deemed a threat to national security.

The Commerce Department is expected to deliver its findings within 270 days. If the reviews conclude that these imports compromise U.S. security, President Trump may swiftly impose tariffs on the goods in question.

Trump has previously utilized this legal authority to justify tariffs on steel and aluminum, and has launched other probes into pharmaceuticals and copper. This latest move reinforces his administration’s strategy of targeting industries considered strategically vital.

Tariff Expansion Signals Escalating Trade Policy

President Trump has intensified his tariff push with a wave of notifications to trade partners. New import tax rates are scheduled to take effect on August 1. On Monday, Trump declared that the U.S. is “barely started” in applying trade levies and claimed that tariffs on steel and automobiles alone have generated $188 billion in revenue.

The escalating tariff agenda has unsettled markets and pushed international partners to seek negotiations before the new duties are enacted. These measures, part of a broader protectionist strategy, may signal a new phase in U.S. trade policy as the administration links economic imports more directly to national security.