CUSTOMS COLLECTS DUTIES ON NEW STEEL TARIFFS

CUSTOMS COLLECTS DUTIES ON NEW STEEL TARIFFS    U.S. Customs has started collecting duties on newly imposed steel tariffs for steel line pipe and steel wire rod imports from all countries, except Canada and Mexico.
   The agency said it’s responding to two recent White House proclamations to help U.S. steel producers adjust to last year’s sharp increase in steel imports.
   In addition to collecting duties, Customs will track and record import quota levels and will conduct extensive reporting of line pipe and wire rod imports.
   Quota-level data will be available to the U.S. Trade Representative on a weekly basis. Customs says this information will also include imports from countries not on the White House’s list. “Customs and USTR will determine frequency of these reports at an upcoming meeting,” the agency said.
   The Customs Steel Monitoring Center, which opened in Chicago last year, will head the agency’s data collection efforts.
   “This is exactly the type of situation we had in mind for the Steel Monitoring Center, and we are poised to respond to any sudden developments in the steel industry,” said Customs Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.