The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that it will be delaying compliance of the final rule, “Aluminum Import Monitoring and Analysis System,” by staying the implementation of 19 CFR part 361 from March 29, 2021 to June 28, 2021.
ALUMINUM IMPORT MONITORING TIMELINE
December 23, 2020 – Commerce published “Aluminum Import Monitoring and Analysis System,” (85 FR 83804) establishing the AIM system in part 361 that would be comprised of an aluminum import licensing program and a public AIM monitor, available through the AIM system website. (85 FR 83804)
January 4, 2021 – Commerce launched the AIM system website (https://www.trade.gov/aluminum).
January 25, 2021 – The original effective date for licenses to be required for all covered aluminum imports (Part 361 ) was on or after January 25, 2021.
January 27, 2021 – Commerce published a notification delaying the effective date of the AIM system until March 29, 2021, and opening a 30-day comment period to solicit public comment.
March 29, 2021 – Commerce has determined that it is appropriate to delay compliance with most aspects of Part 361 and the AIM system by an additional ninety days, by staying part 361.
JUNE 28, 2021 ALUMINUM IMPORT LICENSES REQUIRED
The delay will allow Commerce time to finalize the license application system and provide both the public and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with sufficient advance notice of the new compliance date. In addition, the delay will allow Commerce to consider and respond, as appropriate, to the comments; Commerce intends to issue another notification addressing these comments prior to June 28, 2021.
Therefore, unless otherwise announced, compliance for the majority of Part 361 and the AIM system will be effective on June 28, 2021. Licenses will be required for all covered aluminum imports on or after this date. Additionally, the remaining portions of the regulations concerning the removal of the option to state “unknown” for certain fields on the aluminum license form will be effective on December 24, 2021, as stated in the relevant sections of Part 361, unless otherwise announced.
PUBLIC AIM MONITOR IS NOW LIVE!
Although Commerce is delaying compliance with the majority of part 361 and the AIM system as described above, Commerce is moving forward with one aspect of the AIM system on March 29, 2021. Commerce has released the public AIM monitor on the AIM system website on March 29, 2021.
The public AIM monitor provides information on U.S. imports of aluminum from all countries by broad product categories in both value and volume measures. The public AIM monitor will initially only include publicly available import data, as the license information will not be available.
Once the license collection begins, and Commerce has had sufficient time to review the license data, the public AIM monitor will report certain aggregate information on imports of aluminum product categories using both publicly available import data and data obtained from the licenses.
VISIT THE U.S. ALUMINUM IMPORT MONITOR
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