[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68594-68595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30571]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Steel Import Licensing and Surge Monitoring

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of continuation of Steel Import Licensing and Surge 
Monitoring program.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation to Provide for the 
Termination of Action Taken with Regard to Imports of Steel Products, 
issued December 4, 2003, the Department of Commerce will continue the 
Steel Import Licensing and Surge Monitoring program established 
effective February 1, 2003 (19 CFR part 360).

DATES: This notice is effective December 4, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Al-Saadawi: telephone (202) 482-
1930; fax (202) 501-1377; e-mail [email protected]. The 
information contained in this notice is also posted on the import 
licensing Web site (http://ia.ita.doc.gov/steel/license/).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 5, 2002, the President issued 
Proclamation 7529, implementing safeguard measures with respect to 
certain imported steel products pursuant to sections 201 and 203 of the 
1974 Trade Act, 19 U.S.C. 2251, 2253 (67 FR 10553). In an accompanying 
Memorandum, the President instructed the Secretary of the Treasury and 
the Secretary of Commerce to establish a system of import licensing to 
facilitate the monitoring of imports of these steel products, and 
directed the Secretary of Commerce to publish regulations in the 
Federal Register establishing such a system of import licensing (67 FR 
10593, 10596). Pursuant to this direction, Import Administration 
published proposed regulations establishing a system of import 
licensing on July 18, 2002 (67 FR 47338), and promulgated final 
regulations on December 31, 2002, effective February 1, 2003 (67 FR 
79845).
    On December 4, 2003, the President issued a proclamation 
terminating the safeguard measures and directing the Secretary of 
Commerce to continue the steel import licensing system established 
effective February 1, 2003, until the earlier of March 21, 2005, or 
such time as the Secretary of Commerce establishes a replacement 
program.

[[Page 68595]]

    19 CFR 360.105, promulgated December 31, 2002, and effective 
February 1, 2003, provided as follows: ``The licensing program will be 
in effect for the duration of the safeguard measures only. Licenses 
will be required on all subject imports entered during this period. The 
licenses will be valid for 10 business days after the expiration of the 
safeguard measures to allow for the final filing of required Customs 
documentation. Information collected under this system will not be kept 
longer than the period of time legally required beyond the expiration 
of these remedies.'' Section 105, which is itself not a termination 
provision, referred to the initial period (three years and one day) for 
which the safeguard measures were proclaimed by the President 
(Proclamation 7529, section 9), after which they would expire in the 
absence of further action by the President. The duration of the 
licensing program is not affected by the early termination of such 
measures. The President retains authority to implement such other 
actions, including but not limited to the licensing program, as he 
deems appropriate and feasible pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2253, without 
regard to the early termination of the safeguard measures.

James J. Jochum,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-30571 Filed 12-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P