Posted on 03/28/2020 1:40:22 PM PDT by ransomnote
Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
On November 29, 2019, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to me a report on his investigation into the effect of imports of titanium sponge on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (the “Act”).
Consistent with the Act (19 U.S.C. 1862(c)(2)), I am reporting that in my memorandum of February 27, 2020 (The Effect of Titanium Sponge Imports on the National Security), I concurred with the Secretary’s finding that titanium sponge is being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States. I also agreed with the Secretary’s recommendation that actions to adjust imports not be taken at that time. The Secretary advised me, and I agreed, that measures apart from the adjustment of imports are more likely to be effective to address the threatened impairment of the national security.
I took two measures to address the threatened impairment of the national security from titanium sponge imports. First, I directed the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Commerce, along with the heads of other executive departments and agencies as the Secretaries deem appropriate, to form a working group and invite their counterpart agencies in Japan to participate in discussions with the working group in order to agree upon measures to ensure access to titanium sponge in the United States for use in national defense and critical industries in an emergency. Second, I directed the Secretary of Defense to take all appropriate action, including using his delegated authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) and seeking new appropriations as necessary, to increase access to titanium sponge for use for national defense and critical industries and to support domestic production capacity for the production of titanium sponge to meet national defense requirements. The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Commerce will periodically update me on the progress of these efforts.
Sincerely,
DONALD J. TRUMP
Aha, I see that now. Thanks for everyone’s answers.
Didn’t know we had a domestic capability- we built the SR-71 using stuff slipped out of Russia.
If foreign producers are dumping strategic minerals below value, the government could buy it cheap for a strategic reserve.
We would still need to protect domestic resources.
Asian countries are dumping, that is, charging less for their minerals that we could conceivably mine ourselves, but do not because Asian minerals are offered cheaply.
Another thing that makes rare earth elements and minerals more expensive here is draconian environmental rules.
The Chinese can pull this crap out of their mines and they’ll say screw the environment, whereas here if a tiny snail darter is harmed the Sierra Club and democrats go bonkers. Leftist natives and movies stars build protest camps.
Manufacturers are like, screw it, let’s buy from Japan/China/Thailand/India...
WE MUST SECURE THE BATION
My titanium sponge is great. It seems to last forever.
Does a real number on the dishes tho’....
WE MUST SECURE THE BATION
*****************************
Look, I’m a lifelong BATIONALIST....and so is Trump! Screw those FLOBALISTS!
It is something needed for national security and we shouldn’t be dependent on imports. We have our own we should make sure we produce it here...just in case.
Elk Creek Nebraska. Niocorp.
The mine has yet to be built. Nebraska is reviewing the above ground extraction and processing facuilities engineering plans and should issue a Draft for the air permit for 30 day comment period any time now.. (any time now.) A new mining project takes years to implement in the US.
"The U.S. has a few manufacturers of titanium sponge; however, of late, the country’s dependence on exports from China has increased. Titanium sponge is typically used in liquid propellant tanks for launch vehicles, inter tank structures, gas bottle/liners, and interface rings for satellites in the aerospace and defense industries."
"On February 27, 2020, President Trump announced that he would not impose duties on imports of titanium sponge pursuant to his authority under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, a statute that allows for the imposition of duties where imports threaten to impair the national security. The decision was well-received by much of the United States titanium industry and the many downstream users of titanium produced in the United States."
Maybe China is trying to export a LOT extra to make some un-tariffed cash while glutting our market?
Anyone?
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