Section 201 Steel Import License Required as of February 1, 2003

August 14, 2003

Importers of steel products covered under the President's March 5, 2002 steel safeguards proclamation, whether or not the product is imported from excluded countries or is subject to a product-specific exclusion, will be required to obtain a steel import license from the Department of Commerce for importations occurring on or after February 1, 2003, according to an ABI administrative message issued by U.S. Customs regarding the International Trade Administration's (ITA's) final rule implementing the Steel Import Licensing and Surge Monitoring program. The importer, or the importer's broker or agent, must obtain a user ID and may apply for the license up to sixty days prior to the importation date. The license application form requires entry of certain statistical information which will be used by ITA to track changes in the quantities, types, and origins of steel imports. The license number will be generated automatically and transmitted via email upon submission of the electronic license application form. Information about the licensing program, including the user ID registration form and a complete list of HTSUS codes subject to the licensing requirements, is available at http://www.ia.ita.doc.gov/steel/license/.