2020-11173. Notice of Inquiry Regarding the Exclusion Process for Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Import Tariffs and Quotas

AGENCY:

Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of inquiry with request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In rendering decisions on requests for exclusions from the tariffs and quotas imposed on imports of steel and aluminum articles, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is seeking public comment on the appropriateness of the information requested and considered in applying the exclusion criteria, and the efficiency and transparency of the process employed.

DATES:

Comments must be received by BIS no later than July 10, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Comments on this rule may be submitted to the Federal rulemaking portal (www.regulations.gov). The regulations.gov ID for this rule is: BIS-2020-0012. Please refer to RIN 0694-XC058 in all comments and in the subject line of email comments.

Material submitted by members of the public that is properly marked business confidential information and accepted as such by the Department will be exempted from public disclosure as provided for by §  705.6 of the National Security Industrial Base Regulations (15 CFR parts 700 to 709) (“NSIBR”). Anyone submitting business confidential information should clearly identify the business confidential portion at the time of submission, file a statement justifying nondisclosure and referring to the specific legal authority claimed, and provide a non-confidential submission which can be placed in the public file on http://www.regulations.gov. Communications from agencies of the United States Government will not be made available for public inspection. For comments submitted electronically containing business confidential information, the file name of the business confidential version should begin with the characters “BC”. Any page containing business confidential information must be clearly marked “BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL” on the top of that page. The non-confidential version must be clearly marked “PUBLIC”. The file name of the non-confidential version should begin with the character “P”. The “BC” and “P” should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments or rebuttal comments. All filers should name their files using the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Any submissions with file names that do not begin with a “P” or “BC” will be assumed to be public and will be placed in the public file on http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For questions regarding this Notice of Inquiry, contact Erika Maynard at 202-482-5572 or via email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted a report to the President on his investigation into the effect of imports of steel articles on the national security of the United States. On January 19, 2018, the Secretary similarly transmitted a report to the President on his investigation into the effect of imports of aluminum articles on the national security of the United States. Both reports were issued pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended.

In Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), and Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), the President concurred in the Secretary's findings that aluminum articles and steel articles were being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States. The President therefore decided to take initial action to address the threatened impairment by adjusting the imports of aluminum articles, as defined in Clause 1 of Proclamation 9704, as amended, by imposing a 10 percent ad valorem tariff on such articles imported from most countries, beginning March 23, 2018. The President similarly decided to take initial action by adjusting the imports of steel articles, as defined in Clause 1 of Proclamation 9705, as amended, by imposing a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on such articles imported from most countries, beginning March 23, 2018. In subsequent Proclamations, the President imposed quotas on imports of steel and aluminum from Argentina, and steel from Brazil and the Republic of Korea.

Exclusion Process

Proclamations 9704 and 9705 authorized the Secretary to provide relief from the additional duties imposed on steel and aluminum imports for any steel or aluminum determined not to be produced in the United States in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or of a satisfactory quality or based on specific national security considerations, after a request for relief is made by a directly affected party located in the United States.

On March 19, 2018, the Bureau of Industry and Security issued the interim final rule Requirements for Submissions Requesting Exclusions from the Remedies Instituted in Presidential Proclamations Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States and Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States; and the filing of Objections to Submitted Exclusion Requests for Steel and Aluminum (83 FR 12106) which established the exclusion request process authorized by Proclamations 9704 and 9705.

On August 29, 2018, Proclamations 9776 and 9777 authorized the Secretary to provide relief from quantitative restrictions (quotas) on steel and aluminum imports established by prior proclamations using the same criteria set forth in Proclamations 9704 and 9705 and further authorized all relief granted to be retroactive to the date the request was accepted by the Department of Commerce.

On September 11, 2018, BIS issued a second interim final rule Submission of Exclusion Requests and Objections to Submitted Requests for Steel and Aluminum (83 FR 46026), which revised the exclusion request process, including the addition of rebuttal and surrebuttal submissions.

On June 10, 2019, BIS issued a third interim final rule Implementation of New Commerce Section 232 Exclusions Portal (84 FR 26751), which transitioned the exclusion request process from the regulations.gov platform to the Section 232 Exclusions Portal.

To further inform the public on how to use the exclusion process BIS has posted website guidance, Frequently Asked Questions, and training videos.

As of March 23, 2020, BIS has received 179,128 exclusion requests, with 157,983 for steel and 21,145 for aluminum. Of those requests, 34,970 were rejected and 33,297 received objections. BIS has posted 114,009 decisions, with 78,569 exclusions being granted and 25,440 exclusion requests being denied.

BIS is seeking public comment on the appropriateness of the factors considered, and the efficiency and transparency of the process employed, in rendering decisions on requests for exclusions from the tariffs and quotas imposed on imports of steel and aluminum articles.

Specific topics for potential comments include: (1) The information sought on the exclusion request, objection, rebuttal and surrebuttal forms; (2) expanding or restricting eligibility requirements for requestors and objectors; (3) the Section 232 Exclusions Portal; (4) the requirements set forth in Federal Register Notices, 83 FR 12106, 83 FR 46026, and 84 FR 26751; (5) the factors considered in rendering decisions on exclusion requests; (6) the information published with the decisions; (7) the BIS website guidance and training videos; (8) the definition of “product” governing when separate exclusion requests must be submitted; and (9) incorporation of steel and aluminum derivative products into the product exclusion process.

Comments can also address potential revisions to the exclusion process, including, but not limited to: (1) One-year blanket approvals of exclusion requests for product types that have received no objections as of a baseline date (see Annex 1 and 2); (2) one-year blanket denials of exclusion requests for product types that have received 100 percent objection rates and never been granted as of a baseline date (see Annex 3 and 4); (3) time-limited annual or semi-annual windows during which all product-specific exclusion requests and corresponding objections may be submitted and decided; (4) issuing an interim denial memo to requesters who receive a partial approval of their exclusion request until they purchase the domestically available portion of their requested quantity; (5) requiring requestors to make a good faith showing of the need for the product in the requested quantity, as well as that the product will in fact be imported in the quality and amount, and during the time period, to which they attest in the exclusion request (e.g., a ratified contract, a statement of refusal to supply the product by a domestic producer); (6) requiring objectors to submit factual evidence that they can in fact manufacture the product in the quality and amount, and during the time period, to which they attest in the objection; (7) setting a limit on the total quantity of product that a single company could be granted an exclusion for based on an objective standard, such as a specified percentage increase over a three year average; (8) requiring that requesters citing national security reasons as a basis for an exclusion request provide specific, articulable and verifiable facts supporting such assertion (e.g., a Department of Defense contract requiring the product; a letter of concurrence from the head of a U.S. government agency or department that national security necessitates that the product be obtained in the quality, quantity and time frame requested); (9) clarifying that the domestic product is “reasonably available” if it can be manufactured and delivered in a time period that is equal to or less than that of the imported product, as provided by requestor in its exclusion request; (10) requiring that requestors, at the time of submission of their exclusion requests, demonstrate that they have tried to purchase this product domestically; (11) in the rebuttal/surrebuttal phase, requiring that both requestor and objector demonstrate in their filings that they have attempted to negotiate in good faith an agreement on the said product (i.e., producing legitimate commercial correspondence).

Any specific details about the commenters' experience with the exclusion/objection process as background to their comment to this NOI would be helpful.

Richard E. Ashooh,

Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.

Annex 1: Steel HTS Codes With 0% Objection Rates

232 Process Statistics—Objection Rate by Steel HTSUS, as of 3/23/20

HTSUS code	HTS description	Requests	Requests with objections	Objection rate (%)	Volume requested (mt)	Volume with objections (mt)	Volume objection rate (%)	Percent granted despite objection *
7208370060	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, COILS, NOT PCKLD, THK 4.75-10MM, NESOI	2		0	454		0	0
7208380015	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, COILS, THK 3-4.75MM, HIGH-STRENGTH STL	2		0	1,000		0	0
7208380030	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, COILS, THK 3-4.75MM, UNTRIMMED EDGES	4		0	49,000		0	0
7208390015	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, COILS, THK < 3MM, HIGH-STRENGTH STL	4		0	2,000		0	0
7208390090	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, COILS, THK < 3MM, NESOI	2		0	3,591		0	0
7209170030	FLAT-RLD IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATD/COATED, COILS, THK 0.5-1MM, HI-STRENGTH, ANNEALED	2		0	2,890		0	0
7209270000	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, NOT COILS, THK 0.5-1MM	5		0	50		0	0
7209900000	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, WHETHER OR NOT IN COILS, NESOI	33		0	1,319		0	0
7210706030	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, PAINTD/VARNSHD/COATD W/PLASTICS, ELECTROLYTICALLY PLATD/COATD W/ZINC	2		0	8,500		0	0
7211140090	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH < 600MM, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, HOT-RLD, THK >/= 4.75MM, COILS	2		0	20		0	0
7211234500	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH < 300MM, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, COLD-RLD, <0.25% CRBN, THK </= 0.25MM	1		0	273		0	0
7211296080	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH 300-600MM, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, COLD-RLD, >/= 0.25% CRBN, THK </= 1.25MM	70		0	29,953		0	0
7212200000	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH < 600MM, ELECTROLYTICALLY PLATED/COATED WITH ZINC	36		0	26,869		0	0
7212600000	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH < 600MM, CLAD, NESOI	232		0	11,031		0	0
7213200080	BARS/RODS IRON/NONALLOY STL, HOT-RLD, IRR COILS, FREE-CUTTING STL, NESOI	4		0	365		0	0
7213913020	BARS/RODS IRON/NA STL, IRR COILS, HOT-RLD, CIRC CS <14MM DIAM, NOT TEMPRD/TREATD/PARTLY MFTD, WELDING QUALITY WIRE ROD	29		0	149,700		0	0
7215500018	OTHER BARS/RODS IRON/NONALLOY STL, COLD-FORMED/FINISHED, NOT COILS, < 0.25% CARBON, DIAM 76-228MM	74		0	300		0	0
7215500090	OTHER BARS/RODS IRON/NONALLOY STL, COLD-FORMED/FINISHED, NOT COILS, >/= 0.6% CARBON	9		0	720		0	0
7216100010	U SECTIONS IRON/NONALLOY STL, HOT-ROLLED/DRAWN/EXTRUDED, HEIGHT < 80MM	4		0	4		0	0
7216330090	H SECTIONS IRON/NONALLOY STL, HOT-RLD/DRWN/EXTRD, HEIGHT >/= 80MM, NESOI	26		0	491		0	0
7216400010	L SECTIONS IRON/NONALLOY STL, HOT-ROLLED/DRAWN/EXTRUDED, HEIGHT >/= 80MM	5		0	5		0	0
7217104045	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, < 0.25% CARBON, DIAM < 1.5MM, HEAT-TREATED, NESOI	6		0	93		0	0
7217104090	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, < 0.25% CARBON, DIAM < 1.5MM, NOT HEAT-TREATED	3		0	1,200		0	0
7217106000	OTHER WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, < 0.25% CARBON	11		0	36,420		0	0
7217107000	FLAT WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, >/= 0.25% CARBON	500		0	18,359		0	0
7217108025	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, > 0.6% CARBON, HEAT-TREATED, DIAM < 1.0MM	6		0	2,344		0	0
7217108030	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, > 0.6% CARBON, HEAT-TREATED, DIAM 1.0-1.5MM	42		0	2,669		0	0
7217108060	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, > 0.6% CARBON, NOT HEAT-TREATED, DIAM < 1.0MM	198		0	12,092		0	0
7217108075	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, > 0.6% CARBON, NOT HEAT-TREATED, DIAM 1.0-1.5MM	82		0	11,173		0	0
7217108090	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, > 0.6% CARBON, NOT HEAT-TREATED, DIAM >/= 1.5MM	116		0	9,598		0	0
7217109000	OTHER WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, >/= 0.25% CARBON, NESOI	99		0	5,768		0	0
7217201500	FLAT WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, PLATED/COATED WITH ZINC	61		0	22,661		0	0
7217204550	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, PLATED/COATED WITH ZINC, DIAM 1.0-1.5MM, 0.25-0.6% CARBON	1		0	2		0	0
7217204560	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, PLATED/COATED WITH ZINC, DIAM 1.0-1.5MM, >/= 0.6% CARBON	38		0	3,678		0	0
7217304541	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, PLATED/COATED W/OTH BASE METALS, DIAM 1.0-1.5MM, < 0.25% CARBON	9		0	463		0	0
7217901000	Wire, Iron Or Nonalloy Steel, Coated With Plastics	44		0	9,544		0	0
7217905030	WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, PLATED/COATED, < 0.25% CARBON, NESOI	26		0	2,304		0	0
7217905060	WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, PLATED/COATED, 0.25-0.6% CARBON, NESOI	15		0	4,999		0	0
7217905090	WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, PLATED/COATED, >/= 0.6% CARBON, NESOI	21		0	2,355		0	0
7218910030	SEMIFINISHED STAINLESS STL, RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION, WDTH < 4X THK, CS AREA >/= 232 CM2	1		0	3,622		0	0
7219110030	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1575MM, HOT-RLD, COILS, THK > 10MM	34		0	3,241		0	0
7219110060	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH > 1575MM, HOT-RLD, COILS, THK > 10MM	39		0	4,107		0	0
7219120021	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 1370-1575MM, HOT-RLD, COILS, THK 6.8-10MM	10		0	1,185		0	0
7219120026	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH > 1575MM, HOT-RLD, COILS, THK 6.8-10MM	50		0	10,630		0	0
7219120051	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 1370-1575MM, HOT-RLD, COILS, THK 4.75-6.8MM	16		0	2,136		0	0
7219120071	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1370MM, HOT-RLD, COILS, THK 4.75-10MM, > 0.5% NICKEL, NESOI	13		0	1,341		0	0
7219120081	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1370MM, HOT-RLD, COILS, THK 4.75-10MM, NESOI	3		0	8,620		0	0
7219130081	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1370MM, HOT-RLD, COILS, THK 3-4.75MM, NESOI	2		0	54		0	0
7219210005	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT COILS, THK > 10MM, HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY STL	2		0	38		0	0
7219220005	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT COILS, THK 4.75-10MM, HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY STL	6		0	111		0	0
7219220015	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1575MM, HOT-RLD, NOT COILS, THK 4.75-10MM, > 0.5% NICKEL, 1.5-5% MOLYBDENUM	10		0	541		0	0
7219220035	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1575MM, HOT-RLD, NOT COILS, THK 4.75-10MM, > 0.5% NICKEL, NESOI	29		0	1,482		0	0
7219220040	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 1575-1880MM, HOT-RLD, NOT COILS, THK 4.75-10MM, > 0.5% NICKEL, NESOI	15		0	1,364		0	0
7219240060	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1370MM, HOT-RLD, NOT COILS, THK < 3MM	22		0	543		0	0
7219310010	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, THK >/= 4.75MM, COILS	54		0	11,621		0	0
7219320020	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 1370MM, COLD-RLD, THK 3-4.75MM, COILS, > 0.5% NICKEL	54		0	6,431		0	0
7219320036	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1370MM, COLD-RLD, THK 3-4.75MM, COILS, > 0.5% NICKEL, 1.5-5% MOLYBDENUM	14		0	4,346		0	0
7219320038	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1370MM, COLD-RLD, THK 3-4.75MM, COILS, > 0.5% NICKEL, NESOI	20		0	1,798		0	0
7219320045	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 1370MM, COLD-RLD, THK 3-4.75MM, NOT COILS	15		0	332		0	0
7219330025	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 1370MM, COLD-RLD, THK 1-3MM, COILS, </= 0.5% NICKEL	21		0	3,970		0	0
7219330042	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 600-1370MM, COLD-RLD, THK 1-3MM, COILS, </= 0.5% NICKEL; > 15% CHROMIUM	15		0	2,236		0	0
7219340020	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, THK 0.5-1MM, COILS, > 0.5% NICKEL, 1.5-5% MOLYBDENUM	9		0	1,140		0	0
7219350005	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, THK < 0.5MM, COILS, 0.5-24% NICKEL, 1.5-5% MOLYBDENUM	13		0	8,110		0	0
7219900060	OTHER FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, FURTHER WORKED THAN COLD-RLD, </= 0.5% NICKEL; > 15% CHROMIUM	5		0	38		0	0
7220121000	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH 300-600MM, HOT-RLD, THK < 4.75MM	32		0	6,916		0	0
7220125000	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH < 300MM, HOT-RLD, THK < 4.75MM	14		0	852		0	0
7220206010	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH < 300MM, COLD-RLD, THK > 1.25MM, > 0.5% NICKEL, 1.5-5% MOLYBDENUM	52		0	18,005		0	0
7220206060	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH < 300MM, COLD-RLD, THK > 1.25MM, </= 0.5% NICKEL; > 15% CHROMIUM	23		0	1,058		0	0
7220206080	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH < 300MM, COLD-RLD, THK > 1.25MM, </= 0.5% NICKEL, NESOI	1		0	12		0	0
7220207060	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH < 300MM, COLD-RLD, THK 0.25-1.25MM, </= 0.5% NICKEL, < 15% CHROMIUM	172		0	11,768		0	0
7220208000	FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH < 300MM, COLD-RLD, THK </= 0.25MM, RAZOR BLADE STL	170		0	63,021		0	0
7220900060	OTHER FLAT-ROLLED STAINLESS STL, WDTH < 600MM, FURTH WRKD THAN COLD-RLD, NICKEL CONTENT NESOI, < 15% CHROMIUM	561		0	7,212		0	0
7221000045	BARS/RODS STAINLESS STL, HOT-RLD, IRR COILS, NOT HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY, CIRC CS >/= 19MM DIAM	114		0	19,047		0	0
7222300001	OTHER BARS/RODS STAINLESS STL, FURTH WRKD THAN COLD-FRMD/FNSHD, ELECTROSLAG/VACUUM ARC REMELTED, NESOI	39		0	101		0	0
7222403045	SHAPES/SECTIONS STAINLESS STL, HOT-RLD, NOT DRILLED/PUNCHED/ADVANCED, MAX CS >/= 80MM	48		0	4,387		0	0
7222403085	SHAPES/SECTIONS STAINLESS STL, HOT-RLD, NOT DRILLED/PUNCHED/ADVANCED, MAX CROSS SECTION < 80MM	44		0	2,205		0	0
7222406000	Angles Shapes And Sections Stainless Steel Nesoi	625		0	2,948		0	0
7223005000	FLAT WIRE OF STAINLESS STEEL	170		0	9,894		0	0
7224100005	INGOTS AND OTHER PRIMARY FORMS OF HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY STEEL	3		0	743		0	0
7225403005	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT COILS, THK >/= 4.75MM, HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY STL	1		0			0	0
7225501110	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, TOOL STEEL, HIGH-SPEED STL	15		0	103		0	0
7225506000	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, THK >/= 4.75MM, NESOI	6		0	286		0	0
7226918000	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH < 300MM, HOT-RLD, NOT TOOL STL, THK < 4.75MM	14		0	625		0	0
7226923030	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH < 300MM, COLD-RLD, TOOL STEEL OTH THAN HIGH-SPEED, BALL-BEARING STL	26		0	1,606		0	0
7226923060	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH < 300MM, COLD-RLD, TOOL STEEL OTH THAN HIGH-SPEED, NESOI	168		0	19,874		0	0
7226928005	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH < 300MM, COLD-RLD, NOT TOOL STL, THK > 0.25MM, HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY STL	10		0	199		0	0
7226990110	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH < 600MM, FURTH WRKD THAN COLD-RLD, ELECTROLYTICALLY PLATD/COATD W/ZINC, NESOI	6		0	6,461		0	0
7227100000	BARS/RODS OTH ALLOY STL, HOT-RLD, IRR COILS, HIGH-SPEED STL	693		0	5,976		0	0
7227200030	BARS/RODS SILICO-MANGANESE STL, IRR COILS, HOT-RLD, WELDING QUALITY WIRE RODS, STAT NOTE 6	8		0	161,800		0	0
7227901060	BARS/RODS TOOL STL (NOT HIGH-SPEED), HOT-RLD, IRR COILS, NOT TEMPRD/TREATD/PARTLY MFTD, NESOI	178		0	19,659		0	0
7227906020	BARS/RODS OTHER ALLOY STL, IRR COILS, HOT-RLD, NOT TOOL STL, WELDING QUALITY WIRE RODS	17		0	17,646		0	0
7228308005	OTHER BARS/RODS OTHER ALLOY STL, HOT-ROLLED/DRAWN/EXTRUDED, HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY STL	3		0	15		0	0
7228501040	OTHER BARS/RODS TOOL STL (NOT HIGH-SPEED), COLD-FRMD/FNSHD, MAX CS < 18MM, NESOI	35		0	10,133		0	0
7229200015	ROUND WIRE SI-MN STL, DIAM </= 1.6MM, < 020% C, > 0.9% MN, > 0.6% SI, FOR ELEC ARC WELDING, NOT PLATD/COATED W/ COPPER	1		0	1,500		0	0
7229901000	FLAT WIRE OF OTHER ALLOY STEEL	30		0	1,045		0	0
7229905016	ROUND WIRE OTHER ALLOY STL, DIAM < 1.0MM	80		0	421		0	0
7229905031	ROUND WIRE OTHER ALLOY STL, DIAM 1.0-1.5MM	78		0	622		0	0
7302101015	OTHER RAILS IRON/NONALLOY STL, NEW, NOT HEAT TREATED, > 30KG/M	3		0	480		0	0
7302101045	OTHER RAILS IRON/NONALLOY STL, NEW, HEAT TREATED, > 30KG/M	8		0	465		0	0
7302105020	RAILS OF ALLOY STEEL, NEW	2		0	796		0	0
7302901000	SLEEPERS (CROSS-TIES) OF IRON OR STEEL	3		0	21,498		0	0
7304243010	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) STAINLESS STL, SEAMLESS, THREADED/COUPLED, OUTSIDE DIAM < 215.9MM, WALL THK < 12.7MM	34		0	20,849		0	0
7304243020	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) STAINLESS STL, SEAMLESS, THREADED/COUPLED, OUTSIDE DIAM < 215.9MM, WALL THK >/= 12.7MM	2		0	160		0	0
7304243040	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) STAINLESS STL, SEAMLESS, THREADED/COUPLED, OUTSIDE DIAM 215.9-285.8MM, WALL THK >/= 12.7MM	2		0	860		0	0
7304244040	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) STAINLESS STL, SEAMLESS, NOT THREADED/COUPLED, OS DIAM 215.9-285.8MM, WALL THK >/= 12.7MM	8		0	7,855		0	0
7304244060	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) STAINLESS STL, SEAMLESS, NOT THREADED/COUPLED, OS DIAM 285.8-406.4MM, WALL THK >/= 12.7MM	2		0	5,000		0	0
7304246030	TUBING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) STAINLESS STL, SEAMLESS, OUTSIDE DIAM <≠= 114.3MM, WALL THK > 9.5 MM	74		0	71,809		0	0
7304293120	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) OTH ALLOY STL, SEAMLESS, THREADED/COUPLED, OS DIAM < 215.9MM, WALL THK >/= 12.7MM	4		0	1,028		0	0
7304293160	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) OTH ALLOY STL, SEAMLESS, THREADED/COUPLED, OS DIAM 285.8-406.4MM, WALL THK >/= 12.7MM	7		0	2,625		0	0
7304293180	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) OTH ALLOY STL, SEAMLESS, THREADED/COUPLED, OUTSIDE DIAM > 406.4MM	4		0	4,500		0	0
7304390002	TUBES/PIPES/HLLW PRFLS IRON/NA STL, SMLESS, CIRC CS, NOT COLD-TRTD, SUITABLE FOR BOILERS ETC, OS DIAM < 38.1MM	15		0	3,417		0	0
7304390016	TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES IRON/NA STL, SEAMLESS, CIRC CS, NOT COLD-TRTD, GALVANIZED, OS DIAM </= 114.3MM.	8		0	211		0	0
7304413005	TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PRFLS STAINLESS STL, SEAMLESS, CIRC CS, COLD-DRWN/RLD, EXT DIAM < 19MM, HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY STL	5		0	237		0	0
7304515005	TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES OTH ALLOY STL, SEAMLESS, CIRC CS, COLD-DRWN/RLD, HIGH-NICKEL ALLOY STL	44		0	4,965		0	0
7304592030	TUBES/PIPES/HLLW PRFLS OTH ALLOY STL, SMLESS, CIRC CS, NOT COLD-TRTD, SUITABLE FOR BOILERS ETC, HEAT-RESISTING STL	1,071		0	169,986		0	0
7304592080	TUBES/PIPES/H PRFLS ALLOY STL, SMLSS, CIRC CS, NOT COLD-TRTD, SUIT FOR BOILERS ETC, NOT HT-RSST STL, OS DIAM > 406.4MM	1,082		0	89,791		0	0
7304598010	TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES OTH ALLOY STL, SEAMLESS, CIRC CS, NOT COLD-TREATED, OUTSIDE DIAM < 38.1MM, NESOI	83		0	19,487		0	0
7304598045	TUBES/PIPES/HLLW PRFLS OTH ALLOY STL, SMLESS, CIRC CS, NOT CLD-TRTD, OS DIAM 190.5-285.8MM, WALL THK < 12.7MM, NESOI	65		0	84,783		0	0
7304598060	TUBES/PIPES/HLLW PRFLS OTH ALLOY STL, SMLESS, CIRC CS, NOT CLD-TRTD, OS DIAM 285.8-406.4MM, WALL THK < 12.7MM, NESOI	96		0	119,499		0	0
7304901000	TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES IRON/NONALLOY STL, SEAMLESS, NONCIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, WALL THK >/= 4MM	15		0	4,440		0	0
7304905000	TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES IRON/NONALLOY STL, SEAMLESS, NOT CIRCULAR CS, WALL THK < 4MM, NESOI	6		0	223		0	0
7305316090	OTHER TUBES/PIPES ALLOY STL (NOT STAINLESS), CIRC CS, EXT DIAM > 406.4MM, LONGITUDINALLY WELDED, NESOI	7		0	1,421		0	0
7305391000	OTHER TUBES/PIPES IRON/NONALLOY STL, CIRC CS, EXT DIAM > 406.4MM, WELDED OTH THAN LONGITUDINALLY, NESOI	1		0	8		0	0
7306191010	LINE PIPE (OIL/GAS PIPELINES) IRON/NONALLOY STL, WELDED/RIVETED/SIM CLOSED, OUTSIDE DIAM </= 114.3MM	1		0	8		0	0
7306213000	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) STAINLESS STL, WELDED, THREADED/COUPLED	1		0	400		0	0
7306401010	OTH TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PRFLS STAINLESS STL, WELDED, CIRC CS, WALL THK < 1.65MM, < 0.5% NICKEL, 1.5-5% MOLYBDENUM	15		0	358		0	0
7306401090	OTH TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PRFLS STAINLESS STL, WELDED, CIRC CS, WALL THK < 1.65MM, </= 0.5% NICKEL	76		0	5,117		0	0
7306617060	OTH TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES OTH ALLOY STL (NOT STAINLESS), WELDED, SQ/RECT CS, WALL THK < 4MM	28		0	500		0	0
7306695000	OTH TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES IRON/NONALLOY STL, WELDED, OTH NONCIRCULAR CS, WALL THK < 4MM	4		0	31,500		0	0
7306697060	OTH TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES OTH ALLOY STL (NOT STAINLESS), WELDED, OTH NONCIRCULAR CS, WALL THK < 4MM	8		0	32,594		0	0
7306901000	OTH TUBES/PIPES/HOLLOW PROFILES IRON/NONALLOY STL, RIVETED/SIMILARLY CLOSED (NOT WELDED), NESOI	585		0	23,065		0	0
* Percent of requests granted despite receiving one or more objections, out of the total number of requests with objections and rendered decisions.

Annex 2: Aluminum HTS Codes With 0% Objection Rates

232 Process Statistics—Objection Rate by Aluminum HTSUS, as of 3/23/20

HTSUS code	HTS description	Requests	Requests with objections	Objection rate (%)	Volume requested (mt)	Volume with objections (mt)	Volume objection rate (%)	Percent granted despite objection *
7601106030	ALUMINUM ALLOY OF GREATER THAN 99.8 PERCENT ALUMINUM	3		0	349		0	0
7601209080	ALUMINUM ALLOY, SHEET INGOT (SLAB) OF A KIND DESCRIBED IN STATISTICAL NOTE 3 TO THIS CHAPTER	7		0	6,880		0	0
7601209095	ALUMINUM ALLOY, UNWROUGHT, NESOI	1		0	5		0	0
7604210000	ALUMINUM ALLOY HOLLOW PROFILES	76		0	38,723		0	0
7604293090	ALUMINUM ALLOY BARS AND RODS HAVING A ROUND CROSS SECTION, NESOI	27		0	1,043		0	0
7604295050	ALUMINUM ALLOY BARS/RODS HAVING OTHER THAN ROUND CROSS SECTION, HEAT-TREATABLE INDUSTRIAL ALLOYS	4		0	5		0	0
7604295060	ALUMINUM ALLOY BARS A RODS HAVING OTHR THAN ROUND CROSS SCTN W A MAX CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION OF 10MM OR MORE	17		0	85		0	0
7604295090	ALUMINUM ALLOY BARS AND RODS HAVING OTHER THAN ROUND CROSS SECTION, NESOI	2		0	741		0	0
7605290000	ALUMINUM WIRE ALLOY OF WHICH THE MAXIMUM CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION IS 7MM OR LESS	15		0	202		0	0
7606116000	ALUMINUM PLATES SHEETS AND STRIP RECTANGULAR (INCLUDING SQUARE) NOT ALLOYED CLAD, WTH A THICKNESS OVER 0.2MM	18		0	2,390		0	0
7606123015	ALUMINUM PLATES SHEETS & STRIP RECTANGULAR (INC SQUARE) NOT CLAD,THICKNESS MORE THAN 6.3MM, HIGH-STRENGTH HEAT-TREATABLE ALLOY, STAT NOTE 5, CH 76	8		0	44		0	0
7607116010	ALUMINUM FOIL, BOXED, WEIGHING LT = 11.3 KG, OF A THICKNESS GT 0.01 MM AND LT = 0.15 MM, ROLLED, NOT BACKED	8		0	1,015		0	0
7607191000	ALUMINUM FOIL OF A THICKNESS NOT EXCEEDING 0.2MM NOT BACKED, ETCHED CAPACITOR FOIL	22		0	11,350		0	0
7607196000	ALUMINUM FOIL NESOI NOT BACKED	71		0	23,244		0	0
7607201000	ALUMINUM FOIL OF A THICKNESS NOT EXCEEDING 0.2MM BACKED, COVERED OR DECORATED WITH A CHARACTER, DESIGN, FANCY EFFECT OR PATTERN	3		0	389		0	0
7607205000	ALUMINUM FOIL OF A THICKNESS NOT EXCEEDING 0.2MM BACKED, OTHER THAN COVERED OR DECORATED WITH A CHARACTER, DESIGN, FANCY EFFECT OR PATTERN	84		0	41,696		0	0
7608200090	TUBES AND PIPES ALUM AL EXCPT SEAMLESS	45		0	5,621		0	0
7609000000	ALUMINUM TUBE OR PIPE FITTINGS (COUPLINGS, ELBOWS SLEEVES)	1,469		0	188,157		0	0
7616995160	ALUMINUM CASTINGS	2		0	242		0	0
7616995170	ALUMINUM FORGINGS	8		0	12,597		0	0
* Percent of requests granted despite receiving one or more objections, out of the total number of requests with objections and rendered decisions.

Annex 3: Steel HTS Codes With 100% Objection Rates

232 Process Statistics—Objection Rate by Steel HTSUS, as of 3/23/20

HTSUS code	HTS description	Requests	Requests with objections	Objection Rate (%)	Volume requested (mt)	Volume with objections (mt)	Volume objection rate (%)	Percent granted despite objection *
7207120010	SEMIFINISHED IRON/NONALLOY STL, <0.25% CARBON, RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION, WDTH <4X THK	20	20	100	1,128,815	1,128,815	100	0
7208106000	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, HOT-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATD/COATD, COILS, PATTERNS IN RELIEF, THK <4.75MM	3	3	100	499	499	100	0
7209160091	FLAT-RLD IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATD/COATED, COILS, THK 1-3MM, NOT HI-STRENGTH, NOT ANNEALED	4	4	100	4,246	4,246	100	0
7209182585	FLAT-ROLLD IRON OR NONALLOY STEEL COILS 600MM OR MORE WIDE COLD-RLLD NOT CLAD, PLATED OR COATED, LESS THAN 0.361MM THICK(BLACKPLATE), NESOI	2	2	100	2,782	2,782	100	0
7209186090	FLAT-RLD IRON/NA STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, COLD-RLD, NOT CLAD/PLATED/COATED, COILS, THK 0.361-0.5MM, NOT ANNEALED, NESOI	20	20	100	666,193	666,193	100	0
7210110000	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, PLATED/COATED WITH TIN, THK >/0.5MM	9	9	100	22,100	22,100	100	11
7210610000	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH >/= 600MM, PLATED/COATED WITH ALUMINUM-ZINC ALLOYS	11	11	100	124,100	124,100	100	40
7212303000	FLAT-ROLLED IRON/NONALLOY STL, WDTH <300MM, PLATED/COATED WITH ZINC (NOT ELECTROLYTICALLY), THK <25MM	1	1	100	1,800	1,800	100	0
7217104040	ROUND WIRE IRON/NONALLOY STL, NOT PLATED/COATED, <0.25% CARBON, DIAM <1.5MM, HEAT-TREATED, COILS WGHT </= 2KG	3	3	100	2,080	2,080	100	0
7218990090	SEMIFINISHED STAINLESS STL, CROSS SECTION OTHER THAN RECT/SQ/CIRC, NESOI	1	1	100	1,814	1,814	100	0
7226119060	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH <300MM, SILICON ELECTRICAL STL, GRAIN-ORIENTED, THK >0.25MM	1	1	100	130	130	100	0
7226191000	FLAT-ROLLED OTH ALLOY STL, WDTH 300-600MM, SILICON ELECTRICAL STL, NOT GRAIN-ORIENTED	3	3	100	6,852	6,852	100	0
7304292020	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) IRON/NA STL, SEAMLESS, NOT THREADED/COUPLED, OS DIAM <215.9MM, WALL THK >/= 12.7MM	3	3	100	18,000	18,000	100	0
7304292030	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) IRON/NA STL, SEAMLESS, NOT THREADED/COUPLED, OS DIAM 215.9-285.8MM, WALL THK <12.7MM	12	12	100	200,153	200,153	100	0
7304292050	CASING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) IRON/NA STL, SEAMLESS, NOT THREADED/COUPLED, OS DIAM 285.8-406.4MM, WALL THK <12.7MM	4	4	100	35,000	35,000	100	0
7304295045	TUBING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) IRON/NONALLOY STL, SEAMLESS, OUTSIDE DIAM 114.3-215.9MM	2	2	100	5,000	5,000	100	0
7304390006	TUBES/PIPES/HLLW PRFLS IRON/NA STL, SMLESS, CIRC CS, NOT COLD-TRTD, SUITABLE FOR BOILERS ETC, OS DIAM 190.5-285.8MM	1	1	100	4,000	4,000	100	0
7304390008	TUBES/PIPES/HLLW PRFLS IRON/NA STL, SMLESS, CIRC CS, NOT COLD-TRTD, SUITABLE FOR BOILERS ETC, OS DIAM >285.8MM	1	1	100	4,000	4,000	100	0
7306195110	LINE PIPE (OIL/GAS PIPELINES) ALLOY STL, WELDED/RIVETED/SIM CLOSED, OUTSIDE DIAM	3	3	100	60	60	100	0
7306298110	OTHER TUBING (OIL/GAS DRILLING) OTH ALLOY STL, WELDED/RIVETED/SIMILARLY CLOSED, IMPORTED WITH COUPLING	2	2	100	573	573	100	0
* Percent of requests granted despite receiving one or more objections, out of the total number of requests with objections and rendered decisions.

Annex 4: Aluminum HTS Codes With 100% Objection Rates

232 Process Statistics—Objection Rate by Aluminum HTSUS, as of 3/23/20

HTSUS code	HTS description	Requests	Requests with objections	Objection rate (%)	Volume requested (mt)	Volume with objections (mt)	Volume objection rate (%)	Percent granted despite objection *
7606123055	ALUMINUM ALLOY CAN STOCK, NOT CLAD, LID STOCK	3	3	100	45,000	45,000	100	33
* Percent of requests granted despite receiving one or more objections, out of the total number of requests with objections and rendered decisions.