Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is conducting a probe to determine whether imported commercial aircraft, jet engines, and related parts pose a national security threat to the United States, a Commerce Department notice showed Friday. This move could potentially lead to new tariffs on the aerospace industry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the notice posted on the Federal Register indicates that the department’s Bureau of Industry and Security said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick initiated the investigation on May 1 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. This section grants the president the authority to adjust imports into the U.S. if they are deemed to threaten national security. Trump has been leveraging tariffs to bolster federal government revenue, reduce America’s trade deficit, attract foreign investments, and enhance domestic manufacturing.

The department intends to gather public comments for 21 days from the official publication of the notice. Previously, using Section 232, Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on automobiles and steel. His administration is also conducting investigations to assess the national security implications of imports of copper, lumber, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, among other items.