U.S. agency submits uranium import probe to White House (updated)
15/04/2019 17:44
(Adds more details, background)
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce
Department has submitted to the White House the results of a
national security investigation into uranium imports, a
spokesman for the department said on Monday.
The "Section 232" probe was prompted by a petition filed by
two U.S. uranium mining companies, Ur-Energy Inc URG.A and
Energy Fuels Inc UUUU.A , complaining that subsidized foreign
competitors have caused them to cut capacity and lay off
workers.
U.S. nuclear power generators oppose the federal government
taking action and have argued tariffs or quotas would increase
costs for the struggling industry and possibly cause some
reactors to shut.
The Commerce Department declined to discuss the
recommendations because they are confidential.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in July 2018 the probe
would canvass the entire U.S. uranium sector from mining through
enrichment and defense and industrial consumption.
Uranium is used in the U.S. nuclear arsenal and powers the
Navy’s nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines, along with 99
U.S. commercial nuclear reactors that produce 20 percent of the
electricity consumed in the United States. Ross noted last year
that the U.S. production of uranium has fallen to 5 percent of
U.S. consumption needs from 49 percent in 1987.
Trump has 90 days to decide whether to act upon the
recommendations.
Probes into steel and aluminum imports have led to tariffs
and quotas on the metals, prompting retaliation from trading
partners including Canada, Mexico and the European Union.
The Commerce Department in February submitted the results of
a separate probe into whether imported cars and auto parts pose
a national security risk.
(Reporting by David Shepardson
Editing by Susan Thomas)
((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;))