On September 11, 2020, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce (Commerce) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 200806-0208] that modifies Commerce’s regulations pertaining to the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system to require steel import license applicants to identify the country where the steel used in the manufacture of the imported steel product was melted and poured (the country of melt and pour); clarify how certain import data collected from the licenses will be aggregated and reported on the public SIMA monitor; harmonize the scope of steel products subject to the SIMA licensing requirement with the scope of steel products subject to Section 232 tariffs; extend the SIMA system indefinitely by eliminating the regulatory provision concerning the duration of the SIMA system; and codify eligibility for use of the low-value license for certain steel entries up to $5,000. In addition, Commerce is making corresponding changes to the public SIMA monitor that do not require regulatory modifications and amending the steel import license application to include a new field for the country of melt and pour. Finally, Commerce is modernizing the SIMA system, including both the online license application platform and the public SIMA monitor. The effective date of the modifications is October 13, 2020.
