The complete list of changes can be found in the Federal Register Notice. Here are highlights of the changes:
- A new modern platform and customer portal for applying for licenses;
- Ease of use including auto-population for specific fields;
- All licenses will require importers to specify the country of ‘melt and pour’ for the crude steel;
- ‘Low Value’ licenses remain valid for shipments up to $5,000;
- Users can upload 50 or more licenses at one time by themselves (subject to standard data checks);
- Modernized, user-friendly features include the ability for licensees to 1) view, archive, and retrieve all their licenses; 2) correct any license; and, 3) duplicate a license as a template;
- A new search function allows users to access all licenses they have submitted, archived, or canceled and filter them by status, and date;
- Field validation that highlights uncommon selections or potential errors that could prompt further review;
- More options for users to make their own changes to their account, such as changing a password;
- An interactive Steel Import Monitor that allows users to export data for use in monitoring early import trends and identifying potential circumvention or transshipment.
We have created tutorial videos to help users become familiar with the new SIMA License Application and the new SIMA Monitor. These videos are available below.
Getting Started With SIMA - New Account Creation
Getting Started With SIMA - Apply for Standard License
Getting Started With SIMA - Account Dashboard Overview
Getting Started With SIMA - SIMA Monitor Overview
Virtual demos of the SIMA licensing system and the SIMA monitor are available upon request. Please e-mail steel.license@trade.gov to schedule a demo.
To view a sample of the new Steel Import License form, please click here.
To view a sample of the new Low-Value License form, please click here.
To assist with filling out the new form, we have created a list of definitions of each field in the license form, available below.
Company and Shipment Information
- Applicant Company: Name of company responsible for shipment (This should be the company of the registered user).
- Customs Entry Number: Input if known at time of application. This number is optional.
- License Number: Generated by the Licensing System upon submission.
- Contact Name: Name of applicant.
- Address of Applicant: Applicant’s business address. Must be the U.S. street address used when registering in the licensing system. A PO Box address is not acceptable.
- Contact Phone: Contact telephone number of the registered user.
- Contact Fax: Contact fax number of the registered user.
- Contact Email: E-mail address of the registered user (same as User ID/Username).
- Importer Name: Name of Importer of Record.
- Exporter Name: Name of Exporter.
- Manufacturer Name: Name of manufacturer(s) of the product(s). May list multiple manufacturers or as unknown.
- Country of Origin: Country in which the product(s) were manufactured. Please spell out country name (no abbreviations).
- Country of Exportation: Country from which the product(s) were exported. Please spell out country name (no abbreviations).
- Expected Port of Entry: Expected port of entry. Please write city and state.
- Expected Date of Export: Date product(s) expected to be shipped from the country of exportation. Must be in mm/dd/yyyy format.
- Expected Date of Import: Date product(s) expected to enter the United States. Must be in mm/dd/yyyy format. Date should be as accurate as possible.
- Date of Application: Date application for the License was made. License may be filed up to sixty days prior to the expected date of importation, and until the date of filing of the Customs Entry Summary documentation (CF-7501). Date is automatically generated upon submission.
- Date License Valid From: License will be valid for seventy-five days from the date of application. This date is automatically generated upon submission.
- Date License Valid Through: Date License will expire. Date is automatically generated upon submission.
Product Information for Each Product*
- HTS Number: Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) number that most closely describes the product to be imported. This should match the HTS used on the CF-7501.
- Country of Melt & Pour: Country where Steel was originally melted; Please spell out Country name (no abbreviations).
Country of Melt & Pour refers to the original location where the raw steel is (1) first produced in a steel-making furnace in a liquid state and then (2) poured into its first solid shape. The first solid state can take the form of either a semi-finished product (slab, billets or ingots) or a finished steel mill product. The location of melt and pour is customarily identified on mill test certificates that are commonplace in steel production, generated at each stage of the production process, and maintained in the ordinary course of business. This reporting requirement will not apply to raw materials used in the steel manufacturing process (i.e., steel scrap; iron ore; pig iron; reduced, processed, or pelletized iron ore; or raw alloys).
- Product Description: Description of the product taken from the HTS list.
- Product Category: Category assigned to the product based on the Product HTS. This is automatically generated upon submission.
- Volume (Kilograms): The weight of the product in kilograms at time of entry (net weight).
- Unit: The unit of measurement must be listed in kilograms.
- Customs Value (U.S.$): Entered value of this product in U.S. dollars; not invoiced value (It should not include duty, brokerage fees, or freight).
*Information is required for each product included in this license application.
The following eight (8) new HTS codes will require a Steel Import License:
- 7228706000 - Angles, shapes, and sections of other alloy steel, not stainless.
- 7222406000 - Angles, shapes, and sections, other, of stainless steel
- 7217901000 - Wire of iron or nonalloy steel coated with plastic
- 7302101065 - Used railway rails for rerolling
- 7302101075 - Used railway rails for rerolling, other
- 7302105040 - Used railway rails for rerolling, of alloy steel
- 7302105060 - Used railway rails for rerolling, of alloy steel, other
- 7302909000 - Railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel
Note, there were revisions to HTS codes affecting covered steel imports effective July 1st, 2021. Our table referenced below has been updated to reflect these changes.
To see the full list of products requiring licenses, please refer to the new table of HTS codes.
We have created a list of FAQs for your convenience. Click this link to view the FAQs.
You can also view the following Quick Reference Guides for more information on SIMA:
Industry Monitoring and Analysis
Email: steel.license@trade.gov
Phone: (202) 482-2105
*Please reach out via e-mail for the fastest response to your inquiry.*
