According to a document to be published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2025, the US Department of Commerce has formally initiated an investigation into the national security implications of semiconductor and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) imports. The investigation, led by the Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), falls under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which empowers the Secretary of Commerce to assess whether specific imports pose a threat to national security.