USG Notification Letter

May 11, 2020

The Honorable Mark T. Esper
Secretary of Defense
Washington, DC 20301
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I am writing to notify you that I am initiating an investigation to determine the effect of
imports of laminations for stacked cores for incorporation into transformers, stacked and wound
cores for incorporation into transformers, electrical transformers, and transformer regulators on
the national security of the United States. This investigation is in response to inquiries and
requests from interested parties in the United States, including multiple Members of Congress, a
grain-oriented electrical steel manufacturer, and producers of power and distribution transformers.
I am taking this action pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as
amended (19 U.S.C. § 1862), which requires that notice be provided to the Secretary of Defense
upon initiation of an investigation. During the investigation, Department of Commerce staff will
consult with their counterparts in the Department of Defense regarding any methodological and
policy questions that arise during the investigation, including the national defense requirements
for these products.
My point of contact is Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, at Matthew.Borman@bis.doc.gov or
(202) 482-5711. I look forward to our collaboration on this important issue.
Sincerely,

Wilbur Ross

May 11, 2020

The Honorable Dan R. Brouillette
Secretary of Energy
Washington, DC 20585
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I am writing to notify you that I am initiating an investigation to determine the effect of
imports of laminations for stacked cores for incorporation into transformers, stacked and wound
cores for incorporation into transformers, electrical transformers, and transformer regulators on
the national security of the United States. This investigation is in response to inquiries and
requests from interested parties in the United States, including multiple Members of Congress, a
grain-oriented electrical steel manufacturer, and producers of power and distribution transformers.
I am taking this action pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as
amended (19 U.S.C. § 1862). During the investigation, Department of Commerce staff will
consult with their counterparts in the Department of Energy regarding methodological and policy
questions that arise during the investigation, including the energy grid requirements for these
products.
My point of contact is Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, at Matthew.Borman@bis.doc.gov or
(202) 482-5711. I look forward to our collaboration on this important issue.
Sincerely,

Wilbur Ross

May 11, 2020

The Honorable Chad F. Wolf
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I am writing to notify you that I am initiating an investigation to determine the effect of
imports of laminations for stacked cores for incorporation into transformers, stacked and wound
cores for incorporation into transformers, electrical transformers, and transformer regulators on
the national security of the United States. This investigation is in response to inquiries and
requests from interested parties in the United States, including multiple Members of Congress, a
grain-oriented electrical steel manufacturer, and producers of power and distribution transformers.
I am taking this action pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as
amended (19 U.S.C. § 1862). During the investigation, Department of Commerce staff will
consult with their counterparts in the Department of Homeland Security regarding methodological
and policy questions that arise during the investigation, including the critical infrastructure
requirements for these products.
My point of contact is Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, at Matthew.Borman@bis.doc.gov or
(202) 482-5711. I look forward to our collaboration on this important issue.
Sincerely,

Wilbur Ross

May 11, 2020

The Honorable Robert E. Lighthizer
United States Trade Representative
Washington, DC 20508
Dear Ambassador Lighthizer:
I am writing to notify you that I am initiating an investigation to determine the effect of
imports of laminations for stacked cores for incorporation into transformers, stacked and wound
cores for incorporation into transformers, electrical transformers, and transformer regulators on
the national security of the United States. This investigation is in response to inquiries and
requests from interested parties in the United States, including multiple Members of Congress, a
grain-oriented electrical steel manufacturer, and producers of power and distribution transformers.
I am taking this action pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as
amended (19 U.S.C. § 1862). During the investigation, Department of Commerce staff will
consult with their counterparts in the Office of the United States Trade Representative regarding
methodological and policy questions that arise during the investigation, including the implications
of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on potential import restrictions on these
products.
My point of contact is Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, at Matthew.Borman@bis.doc.gov or
(202) 482-5711. I look forward to our collaboration on this important issue.
Sincerely,

Wilbur Ross