President Donald Trump is once again choosing trade talks over tariffs after a Section 232 investigation, this time for imports of robotics, industrial machinery and their components.
In a proclamation signed Wednesday, Trump instructed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to pursue or continue negotiations with trading partners to address the U.S.’ reliance on imports of robotics, industrial machinery and related parts. The officials are to report their progress to Trump within 180 days.
The order follows a Section 232 probe launched in September 2025, which found that the U.S. produces less robotics and industrial equipment than it needs and lacks the domestic capacity to meet demand, according to the proclamation. Results of the investigation also assert that the U.S. faces risks to its manufacturing base, national security and economic well-being by importing such large quantities of robotics and industrial equipment.
“This import reliance poses risks to the United States industrial base and threatens the long-term competitiveness of the United States in a sector that is increasingly vital to national security,” the proclamation says.
This is the third time in the last three months Trump has opted to pursue trade negotiations following a Section 232 probe rather than immediately installing tariffs. Earlier this month, Trump issued an order for wind turbine imports similar to Wednesday's directive. In July, he also directed cabinet officials to engage in trade negotiations over imports of commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts. The president also pushed for trade discussions on semiconductor imports in January while installing a 25% tariff on a narrow range of chips. Cabinet officials were meant to update Trump on the talks by July 1.
These recent actions contrast with Trump’s previous use of Section 232, a statute he has leveraged to impose tariffs on a wide range of goods, including cars and auto parts, drones and components, and polysilicon. However, the president said in Wednesday’s proclamation that he “may consider alternative remedies in the future,” including imposing or modifying tariffs, based on the outcome of trade talks by cabinet officials.
