Where Industry and Security Intersect
What's New | Sitemap | Search
Effects of Imports of Anti-Friction Bearings on the National Security
The Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association (AFBMA) petitioned the Department of Commerce/Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to conduct an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, to determine the effect of imports of ball and roller bearings on the national security. AFBMA asserted that "the domestic bearings industry is in a state of serious decline. . . (and unless action is taken) the domestic industry's ability to supply military and related commercial needs is seriously endangered." The report analyzed defense uses of bearings, the performance, competitiveness and capacity of the domestic bearing industry and national security requirements. It concluded that the domestic bearing industry would be able to meet most but not all national security requirements in the event of a major conventional war. Further, imports continued to pose significant challenges to domestic manufacturers in a number of product lines which could lead to the further erosion of domestic production capabilities. At the time of the report, the U.S. Government was taking a number of steps to improve the bearing industry’s production capabilities, including the Department of Defense (DOD) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) that required domestic procurement of all defense-related bearings.