U.S. maintains steel imports oversight program

U.S. maintains steel imports oversight program    The U.S. Commerce Department said it will lengthen a program developed to track how much steel is imported into the country.
   The department issued an interim final rule Wednesday that will extend the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis System (SIMA) until 2009, and increase its coverage to more than 30 additional steel mill products.
   “The purpose of the SIMA system is to provide steel producers, steel consumers, importers, and the general public with accurate and timely information on anticipated imports of certain steel products,” the Commerce Department said.
   The department will release on its Web site aggregate licensing date at the six-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule product level. The department will also terminate licensing with respect to certain “downstream” steel products now covered, such as carbon and alloy flanges and pipe fittings.
   Currently, the monitoring program requires licenses certain steel product imports that had been covered under President Bush’s 2002 steel safeguard action. The program was heavily criticized by the World Trade Organization. The Bush administration ended the safeguard action in December 2003.