Biden Administration Delays Aluminum Monitoring Program

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that it is delaying the effective date of a final rule to implement an Aluminum Import Monitoring (AIM) and Analysis System. The program now will go into effect on March 29, 2021. (It had been set to go live on January 25, 2021.)

As the U.S. Glass News Network explained, the Commerce Department also now is soliciting public comment on the program before it goes into effect. The agency said, “This delay in effective date is necessary to allow the incoming administration time to review the final rule and consider any additional comments before implementation.” During the public comment period, the AIM system website will continue to operate, but licenses will not be required for covered aluminum imports until on or after March 29, 2021.

As Connecting the Dots reported last month, on December 23, the Trump administration announced the creation of the AIM system, which will enable the department to collect and publish data on aluminum imports. The department said the goal of AIM is to track aggregate trends in U.S. imports of certain aluminum products in almost real-time, providing an early indication of trends. The monitor also should help to identify surges of specific aluminum products suggesting potential transshipment and circumvention relating to these products.

The Commerce Department’s decision to delay the system comes after President Joe Biden issued an executive order freezing all regulations pending review by the new administration.

Continue to stay tuned to Connecting the Dots as this story develops.