Construction of American Pipelines

This memorandum directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop a plan requiring all new, retrofitted, repaired, or expanded U.S. pipelines to use materials and equipment produced in the United States to the maximum extent permitted by law. The plan is due to the President within 180 days, and the memo defines strict domestic manufacturing standards for iron and steel products.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 8659

Impact dates

Jul 23, 2017
Plan submission to President

Key directives

Secretary of Commerce shall develop plan for domestic content requirements for all new, retrofitted, repaired, or expanded U.S. pipelines
Plan must require materials and equipment produced in the United States to maximum extent possible and permitted by law
Secretary shall submit plan to President within 180 days
Defines 'produced in the United States' for iron and steel products with strict manufacturing process requirements
Secretary authorized and directed to publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of Commerce · Commerce

Timeline

Immediate

Memorandum takes effect upon signing
Federal Register publication authorized

Near term (90d)

Secretary of Commerce to begin developing plan in consultation with relevant agencies

Long term

Plan submission to President due within 180 days
Potential implementation of domestic content requirements for pipeline projects

Risks & tensions

Definition of 'to the maximum extent possible and to the extent permitted by law' creates flexibility that may limit enforceability
Strict 'produced in the United States' definition could disrupt existing supply chains and increase costs
Potential WTO or trade agreement conflicts with domestic content preferences
No specified consequences for non-compliance in plan development