Core Points - The Trump administration is expanding the scope of tariffs to include robots and medical devices, with investigations initiated under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act [1] - The Department of Commerce has 270 days to submit policy recommendations to the President regarding imports deemed critical to national security [1] - Concerns over reliance on foreign medical supplies, such as syringes and sutures, have prompted the new investigation into medical devices [1] - The investigation into robots and industrial machinery will focus on computer-controlled systems and widely used factory equipment [1] - The Department of Commerce will also review trade in personal protective equipment, including gloves and masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic [1] - The new investigations expand the range of industries potentially facing tariffs, following similar inquiries into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, aircraft, critical minerals, and heavy trucks [1] - Previous tariffs have been imposed on automobiles, copper, steel, and aluminum using the same legal framework [1] Industry Implications - The Section 232 investigations provide a significant policy backing for the Trump administration, especially if comprehensive tariffs against multiple economies are challenged in federal court [2]