On December 23, 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) published a final rule in the Federal Register (See https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2020-28166) adopting the Aluminum Import Monitoring and Analysis (AIM) system regulations and establishing an AIM website.  As a result, licenses will be required for imports of covered aluminum products starting January 25, 2021 at 12:00 AM EST. For the list of aluminum products subject to the new licensing requirement, please reference: https://www.trade.gov/aluminum-products-hts-codes

The AIM license application will share the same platform as the SIMA license application, so starting on or after January 4,2021 existing SIMA users will have an option to apply for aluminum licenses using your existing SIMA accounts.  Current SIMA users will NOT need to re-register if you already have an account in the new SIMA system.

Although AIM and SIMA will share a common website platform, the aluminum and steel licenses have distinct application forms, so you may not simply add aluminum HTS codes to steel licenses or vice versa.  Instead, there will be a drop-down option to go to the aluminum license form instead of the steel license form that will become available on January 4, 2021.

Completely new users who do not have accounts in the SIMA system will need to sign up and create account at https://www.trade.gov/aluminum starting on or after January 4, 2021.  While users are encouraged to start creating aluminum licenses January 4, licenses will not be required for entries of covered aluminum products until January 25, 2021.

AIM also encourages you to visit the new AIM information webpage (www.trade.gov/updates-aluminum-import-licensing) for more information on:

• Instructional Videos on How to Apply for Licenses on The New Platform
• Information About Registering for A Demo
• Samples of the New Licenses
• Products Requiring an Aluminum Import License
• FAQs (including a Glossary of Terms)
• Contact Information for AIM team

Please also consider registering for a demo of the AIM licensing system.  Please contact AIM by email at aluminum.license@trade.gov and include the number and date/time of the demo you would like to participate in.  The choices are:

1. Thursday, January 7^th, 2021 @ 1:00 PM EST
2. Thursday, January 14^th, 2021 @ 10:30 PM EST
3. Thursday, January 21^st, 2021 @ 3:00 PM EST
4. Friday, January 22^nd, 2021 @ 3:00 PM EST
5. Monday, January 25^th, 2021 @ 2:00 PM EST

***Please send all questions about the new aluminum licensing system to Aluminum.License@trade.gov ***