The AIM system is a tool for The U.S. Department of Commerce to monitor aluminum import levels. The licensing requirement applies to “basic aluminum products” under the following tariff schedule headings and subheadings: 7601, 7604, 7605, 7606, 7607, 7608, 7609, 7616.99.51.60 and 7616.99.51.70.
The U.S. Department of Commerce will begin requiring licenses to import aluminum on June 28th, 2021.
The Aluminum Import Monitoring and Analysis System was established for permits to be requested through an online portal to receive a license number that must be electronically transmitted to U.S. Customs & Border Protection for release of the goods.
Commerce initially allowed a one-year grace period on the reporting of the “country of largest smelt” and “country of second largest smelt.” This grace period will expire on June 29th, 2022.
Commerce defines the field for the country of smelt for the largest (and second largest) volume of primary aluminum as the country where the largest volume of new aluminum metal is produced from alumina (refined aluminum oxide) by the electrolytic Hall-Héroult process. Based on public comments in response to the preliminary rule, it was determined that importers/brokers would need time to gather required information for the countries of smelt and a grace period was granted for these fields.
Please note that no import licenses would be required on informal entries of aluminum products (i.e., entries under $2,500 that comply with other CBP requirements for informal entry.) For shipments containing less than $5,000 in aluminum, applicants would be able to apply for a reusable Low-Value License that can be used in lieu of a single-entry license for low-value entries, Commerce said.
This information is publicly available through CSMS #51720841 If you have questions, please contact the U.S. Regulatory Team at transitionus@willsonintl.com