Issue 333, March 12, 2001
Below is an excerpt from last Thursday's Federal Register regarding the Presidential Proclamation 7529, identifying the temporary safeguards imposed in an effort to assist the U.S. steel industry:

(a) certain flat steel: with regard to: 1) slabs, a TRQ of 4.90 million metric tons in the first year of the measure, 5.35 million metric tons in the second year, and 5.81 million metric tons in the third year, with no increase in duties for imports below the within-quota level and an increase in duties of 30% ad valorem for imports above the within-quota level in the first year of the measure, 24% in the second year, and 18% in the third year; and with regard to certain flat steel; 2) other than slab (including plate, hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel and coated steel), an increase in duties of 30% ad valorem in the first year, 24% in the second year, and 18% in the third year;

(b) hot-rolled bar: an increase in duties of 30% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 24% in the second year, and 18% in the third year;

(c) cold-finished bar: a increase in duties of 30% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 24% in the second year, and 18% in the third year;

(d) rebar: an increase in duties of 15% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 12% in the second year, and 9% in the third year;

(e) certain welded tubular products: an increase in duties of 15% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 12% in the second year, and 9% in the third year;

(f) carbon and alloy fittings: an increase in duties of 13% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 10% in the second year, and 7% in the third year;

(g) stainless steel bar: an increase in duties of 15% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 12% in the second year, and 9% in the third year;

(h) stainless steel rod: an increase in duties of 15% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 12% in the second year, and 9% in the third year;

(i) tin mill products: an increase in duties of 30% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 24% in the second year, and 18% in the third year; and

(j) stainless steel were: an increase in duties of 8% ad valorem in the first year of the measure, 7% in the second year, and 6% in the third year.

The proclamation also confirms that these additional duties shall be effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01am, EST, on March 20, 2002.

The higher duties will be assigned via the application of HTSUS 9903 tariff numbers, which will be shown in addition to the normal tariff classification. These are currently in the process of being set up.

As a reminder, the safeguard measures will not apply to products of Canada, Mexico, Jordan, Israel, or qualifying developing countries.

For further information, please visit the U.S. Trade Representative website at www.ustr.gov.

Our contributing writer, Paul Vroman, works for Danzas AEI Intercontinental as Technical Advisor, LCB, in Port Huron, Michigan. Paul can be reached via email or at 810-987-0557.

Please note that due to the complex nature of the subject matter, DHL Danzas Air & Ocean cannot be responsible for actions taken by the reader in reliance on the information contained herein without prior consultation with DHL Danzas Air & Ocean.