Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Section 232 Investigation into
the Effect of Imports of Neodymium Magnets on U.S. National Security
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 24, 2021
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has initiated an
investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19
U.S.C. § 1862), to determine the effects on U.S. national security from imports of
Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets. Interested parties are invited to
submit written comments, data, analyses, or other information to BIS by November 12,
2021. This is the first Section 232 investigation initiated under Secretary Raimondo’s
leadership, and is consistent with a recommendation by the White House in the BidenHarris Administration’s 100-day supply chain reviews to evaluate whether to initiate this
investigation.
Critical national security systems rely on NdFeB permanent magnets, including fighter
aircraft and missile guidance systems. In addition, NdFeB permanent magnets are
essential components of critical infrastructure, including electric vehicles and wind
turbines. The magnets are also used in computer hard drives, audio equipment, and
MRI devices.
If the Secretary finds that NdFeB permanent magnets are being imported into the
United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair
the national security, the Secretary shall advise the President in her report on the
findings of the investigation. By law, the Secretary of Commerce has 270 days from
initiation, until June 18, 2022, to present the Department’s findings and
recommendations to the President.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo released the following statement: “The
Department of Commerce is committed to securing our supply chains to protect our
national security, economic security, and technological leadership. Consistent with
President Biden’s directive to strengthen our supply chains and encourage investments
to shore up our domestic production, the Department initiated a Section 232
investigation on imports of NdFeB permanent magnets to determine whether U.S.
reliance on imports for this critical product is a threat to our national security.”
For more information, visit www.bis.doc.gov.