US President Donald Trump has declared wind turbines and their components a national security threat, citing cybersecurity, radar interference and foreign supply dependence. The order directs trade officials to negotiate with trading partners and report back within 180 days, while leaving tariffs and other trade restrictions as possible future measures.
US President Donald Trump declared that imports of wind turbines and their components threaten US national security on 22 October 2026. He made the declaration in a White House proclamation, but the order does not add new tariffs on the sector.
The Commerce Department investigation identified three main risks. Foreign-made equipment raises cybersecurity concerns. Turbines can interfere with radar systems and air traffic operations. The country also relies more heavily on goods made overseas. The probe began in August 2025 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.
Trump chose not to order immediate trade restrictions. Instead, he directed trade officials to negotiate with trading partners and report back within 180 days. The order states that tariffs and other trade measures could still be considered later.
The order repeats Trump’s longstanding view that wind power is unreliable because it is intermittent. It argues that wind energy pulls the US electrical grid away from more dependable sources.
Mexico, France, India, Denmark and Germany are the major suppliers of wind turbines and components to the United States, according to trade data cited by the American Action Forum, a think tank that leans centre-right.
