Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis System

The Department of Commerce publishes this action to make final an interim final rule that extended and expanded the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system until March 21, 2009. This action also expands the list of covered items to include all basic steel mill products, but it also removes certain downstream steel products, which were formerly covered products (certain fittings and flanges, certain cold formed shapes, and certain bars). The purpose of the SIMA system is to provide statistical data on steel imports entering the United States seven weeks earlier than is otherwise publicly available. The data collected on the licenses are made available to the public in an aggregated form weekly after Commerce review.