On Monday, March 4 the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated a Section 232 investigation into whether the quantity or circumstances of titanium sponge imports into the United States threaten to impair the national security. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense, which supports the Commerce Department in these investigations, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross noted that “titanium sponge[s have] uses in a wide range of defense applications, from helicopter blades and tank armor to fighter jet airframes and engines.” This is the fourth Section 232 investigation initiated by Commerce. Other completed or ongoing investigations have included: steel, aluminum, uranium and automobiles. More information can be found here.