Congress passed the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 during the Cold War to give the president authority to impose tariffs or other trade restrictions on imports deemed to threaten national security. Section 232 of the law requires only a Commerce Department investigation and finding of a national security threat — no congressional vote is required. The statute was intended to protect domestic industries critical to military readiness but has been invoked for broader economic protectionism. Section 232 authority survives even when other presidential trade powers (like IEEPA) are struck down by courts.