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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref. : EIC 111/2/18
EIC 111/3
EIC 111/3/13

4 May 2020
(updated on 5 May 2020)

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 368/2020

US : Section 232 Tariff on Aluminium Articles - Seeking Public Comments on Proposed Aluminum Import Monitoring And Analysis (AIM) System

The US Department of Commerce (DoC) issued a Federal Register (FR) notice on 29 April 2020 seeking public comments on a proposed Aluminum Import Monitoring And Analysis (AIM) system to cover all imports of basic aluminium products, including aluminium articles subject to Section 232 tariff. The proposed scheme would require importers of aluminum or their customs brokers to submit information in an online portal to obtain an automatically issued license. Written comments should be submitted to the US by 29 May 2020 (US time).

DETAILS

2.The US imposed additional tariffs of 25% and 10% on steel and aluminium products respectively imported from all countries/economies (except certain economies) on 23 March 2018 under the Section 232 investigation. For details, please refer to Commercial Information Circular Nos. 264/2018 and 90/2020 dated 16 March 2018 and 6 February 2020.

3.On 29 April 2020, the DoC issued a FR notice seeking public comments on a proposed Aluminum Import Monitoring And Analysis (AIM) system to cover all imports of basic aluminium products, including aluminium articles subject to Section 232 tariff, with the objective of facilitating the monitoring imports of aluminum articles. The AIM system and comment process have the following important features and date:

  • Comments should be submitted to the US through the web portal (http://www.regulations.gov), by mail or hand delivery/courier by 29 May 2020 (US time). The Docket Number is ITA-2020-200408-0103;
  • The scopes of aluminium article subject to AIM system cover USHTS codes:7601, 7604, 7605, 7606, 7607, 7608, 7609, 7616.99.51.60, and 7616.99.51.70;
  • The proposed scheme would require importers of aluminum or their customs brokers to submit certain general information (company name, contact information, HTS number for the goods, expected date of export/import, etc ) in an online portal to obtain an automatically issued license;
  • The aluminum import license can be applied for up to 60 days prior to the expected date of importation. No fee will be charged to apply for the import license. The license is valid for 75 days; and
  • No import license shall be required on informal entries of aluminum products, such as merchandise valued at less than US$2,500.

4.For details, please refer to the FR notice: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-04-29/pdf/2020-07791.pdf.

ENQUIRIES

5.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact Miss K Y HO at telephone number 2398 5405.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Ivy TAM)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.