On March 10, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced new requirements „for reporting the countries of smelt and cast for imports of aluminum and aluminum derivative products from all countries of origin.“

“Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2023, importers of all aluminum articles and aluminum derivative articles from all countries of origin, regardless of whether Section 232 duties, quotas, exclusions, or general approved exclusion apply, shall report the following information on the entry summary”:

Primary Country of Smelt

Report the country where the largest volume of new aluminum metal is produced from alumina (or aluminum oxide) by the electrolytic Hall-Héroult process.

Secondary Country of Smelt

Report the country where the second largest volume of new aluminum metal is produced from alumina (or aluminum oxide) by the electrolytic Hall-Héroult process.

*Secondary aluminum is defined as aluminum metal that is produced from recycled aluminum scrap through a re-melting process.

Country of Cast

Report the country where the aluminum (with or without alloying elements) was last liquefied by heat and cast into a solid state. The final solid state can take the form of either a semi-finished product (slab, billets or ingots) or a finished aluminum product.

Products of the U.S. are not covered by the countries of smelt and cast reporting requirements. 

FOREIGN TRADE ZONES

The smelt and cast reporting requirements also apply to goods withdrawn from a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2023.

PRODUCTS COVERED

Per Proclamations 9704 and 9980, and Chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, the following aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles are subject to Section 232 measures, and are covered by the smelt and cast reporting requirements:

Aluminum articles:

1. unwrought aluminum provided for in heading 7601:
2. bars, rods and profiles provided for in heading 7604; wire provided for in heading 7605;
3. plates, sheets and strip provided for in heading 7606; foil provided for in heading 7607;
4. tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings provided for in heading 7608 and 7609;
5. castings and forgings of aluminum provided for in subheading 7616.99.51.

Aluminum derivatives articles:

1. stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, including slings and similar articles, of aluminum and with steel core, not electrically insulated; the foregoing fitted with fittings or made up into articles (described in subheading 7614.10.50);
2. stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, including slings and similar articles, of aluminum and not with steel core, not electrically insulated; the foregoing comprising electrical conductors, not fitted with fittings or made up into articles (described in subheading 7614.90.20);
3. stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, including slings and similar articles, of aluminum and not with steel core, not electrically insulated; the foregoing not comprising electrical conductors, not fitted with fittings or made up into articles (described in subheading 7614.90.40);
4. stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, including slings and similar articles, of aluminum and not with steel core, not electrically insulated; the foregoing fitted with fittings or made up into articles (described in subheading 7614.90.50);
5. bumper stampings of aluminum, the foregoing comprising parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705 (described in subheading 8708.10.30); and
6. body stampings of aluminum, for tractors suitable for agricultural use (described in subheading 8708.29.21).

For questions regarding Section 232 Quota, please contact the HQ Quota mailbox at HQQuota@cbp.dhs.gov.

Information on CSMS #55438432 can be found here.

RIM logistics, ltd. will continue to monitor the changes that affect the import of aluminum products and will keep you updated. Please contact your RIM representative, or contact us at Compliance@rimlogistics.com,  should you have any questions/concerns.