Section 232 Steel And Aluminum Tariffs: Product-Specific Exclusions

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On March 19, 2018, the Department of Commerce published procedures for product-specific exclusions from the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum products, and has begun to accept exclusion requests.  Each exclusion request will be available for public comment for 30 days after filing. After the 30-day public comment period, the Department of Commerce will review the exclusion request and any objections, and will make a determination. According to Commerce, processing of exclusion requests will normally not exceed 90 days.  Determinations will also be posted for public review on regulations.gov. In evaluating exclusion requests, the Department of Commerce, in consultation with other Administration officials, will consider whether a product is produced in the U.S. of a satisfactory quality or in a sufficient and reasonably available amount.

Only individuals and organizations operating in the U.S. that use steel or aluminum in business activities (e.g., construction, manufacturing, or supplying steel or aluminum to users) in the U.S. may request an exclusion. Separate requests must be submitted on each distinct type and dimension of steel or aluminum product to be imported. The request must include a full factual description of the specific product, including: 1) the single type of steel or aluminum product required using a 10-digit HTSUS code, including specific dimensions; 2) the quantity of product required (in kilograms) under a one year exclusion; and 3) a full description of the properties of the steel or aluminum product, including chemical composition, dimensions, strength, toughness, ductility, etc. Only fully completed exclusion requests will be considered.

Any individual or organization in the U.S. may file objections, but Commerce will only consider information directly related to the exclusion request. Organizations submitting objections must provide specific information on the product that their company can provide that is comparable to the steel or aluminum product that is the subject of the exclusion request. Such information should include the steel or aluminum products manufactured in the U.S., their production capabilities in the U.S., a discussion on the suitability of their products for the application(s) identified by the exclusion requestor, and the delivery time and availability of the products they manufacture relative to the specifications provided.

Approvals will be made on a product basis and are limited to the applicant, unless the DOC approves a broader application.

The forms for submitting steel and aluminum exclusion requests, and objections to specific exclusion requests, are available on regulations.gov.  The steel docket number is BIS-2018-0006 and the aluminum docket number is BIS-2018-0002.

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DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

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