Trump Picks Trade Talks Over Wind Turbine Tariffs, 180 Days to Report

For now, little changes at the border. Some wind turbines and parts already face levies on steel, copper and aluminum, and Utility Dive reported that those tariffs are unaffected. No category-specific wind tariff is created.

The proclamation says the U.S. is reliant on imports of turbines and parts, which have increased over the last decade. It says foreign-made equipment presents unique cybersecurity risks and singles out inverters, saying the vast majority are made outside the U.S. Reuters said the findings also cite interference with radar and air traffic operations.

Which Countries Supply Wind Turbines to the U.S.

Major suppliers of turbines and components to the U.S. include Mexico, France, India, Denmark and Germany, according to trade data cited by the think tank American Action Forum, as relayed by Reuters. The proclamation, as reported, does not name which of those countries the talks will cover. No source read for this story gives a cost estimate for U.S. wind projects.

The decision follows the pattern of an earlier Trump order. Utility Dive noted that a similar proclamation came in July after a Section 232 probe into commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts, while other Section 232 probes, including those on drones, furniture and some semiconductors, ended in tariffs.

The order also describes wind energy as unreliable and burdensome for the domestic power grid, a position the administration has pressed elsewhere. Utility Dive said the administration is attempting to revoke offshore wind permits and to pay developers to terminate offshore wind leases. Those are separate actions from the trade order, and the sources do not link them to any change in turbine prices.

What Happens Next After the 180-Day Window

The next dated marker is the 180-day reporting window that began with the Oct. 22 signing. Until Lutnick and Greer report, wind developers and utilities face an open question: whether the talks end in agreements or in new duties on turbines, towers or inverters. Reuters said the American Clean Power Association, which represents clean energy companies, was not immediately available for comment.