US ends investigation into crane imports

On 23 November 2020, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross terminated the Section 232 investigation of the Trade Expansion Act into whether imports of mobile cranes threaten to impair national security in the United States.

The Commerce Department has determined it was “appropriate to terminate” the investigation into crane imports into the USA.

The investigation was terminated following an 8 September 2020 request from the applicant, The Manitowoc Company, to withdraw its application and terminate the investigation, citing a changing economic environment due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The investigation was initiated in May 2020, and included a public comment period that drew more than 100 responses. Most of the responses were against Manitowoc’s contention that the import of mobile cranes threatened national security and created economic hardships for American companies.

After consideration of Manitowoc’s request for withdrawal, the Secretary determined that it was appropriate to terminate the investigation, according to a news release. The Department of Commerce will publish a Federal Register notice informing the public of this decision.

Tadano America president Ingo Schiller said his company is pleased with the conclusion of this matter.

“Tadano is grateful that the Department of Commerce worked to understand the crane industry and gathered the information that they needed to make an informed decision,” he said.