Offshore wind leasing temporarily withdrawn, ongoing projects halted, federal land initiatives cancelled, and related regulations are under review.

In Brief by Probe International

For the original report, see: Commerce Is Investigating Tariffs on Imports of Wind Turbines and Their Parts | By Institute for Energy Research (IER)

The Trump administration is investigating the national security implications of importing wind turbines and components under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, following a significant increase in imports, which reached nearly $1.4 billion by June 2025—a 97% rise from the previous year.

In 2024, the U.S. imported approx. $1.8 billion worth of wind turbines, primarily from Mexico, France, India, Denmark, and Germany. If tariffs of 50% were enacted, similar to those on steel and aluminum, it could incur approx. $385 million in costs.

Wind energy currently generates 10.5% of U.S. utility-scale electricity but only meets 1.6% of total energy needs, with most production occurring onshore due to lower costs compared to offshore.

President Trump implemented executive actions affecting the wind energy sector, which included a temporary withdrawal of offshore wind leasing through an executive order and the suspension of several ongoing offshore wind projects. He also canceled initiatives on federal lands and initiated a comprehensive review of offshore wind energy regulations, encompassing leases, permits, rights-of-way, and loans.

The IER report highlights the president’s specific concerns as follows:

According to President Trump, offshore wind disrupts fishing zones, threatens wildlife (such as birds, bats, and the North Atlantic Right Whale), damages large sections of the ocean floor, and burdens Americans with high electricity costs and unreliable electricity — all while operating at less than half its rated capacity. Offshore wind is more expensive than onshore wind, and its costs have increased due to high interest rates, supply chain issues, and inflation, resulting in project cancellations.

The American Action Forum notes that without clear criteria for assessing national security threats from wind turbine imports, the justification for tariffs remains uncertain, especially if they are intended to protect domestic industries at the expense of competition and consumer prices.