What I am getting at is if our presindent doesn't sign he awb back in effect, how many arms could be imported before our new president overturns the decision.

0.

Isn't the assault weapons ban (1994) and the non sporting arms import ban (1989) two different animals. I don't think the import ban sunsets.

The 1989 "ban" was merely a tightening of the criterion for importation under 18 USC 922(r). Congress banned the importation of non "sporting" rifles, but empowered BATF to set up the specific criteria to make the determination if a rifle was sporting or not.  This section had existed since the GCA of 1968, I believe.  It basicly allows BATF to decide what comes in the country and what doesn't.  Until 1989 this section was loosely read, and BATF allowed just about any imported rifle to fall under the "sporting" definition and to be imported.  In 1989, Bush Sr. directed BATF to re-evaluate and tighten their criteria which determines if a rifle is "sporting" (and could thus be imported) or not.  The 1998 ban is just one more tightening of the import rules.

The '94 AWB sunset feature will only change a couple of things IIRC. The domestic manufacturing of over ten round mags for civilian use may begin again. And the flash suppressors and bayo lugs can be put back onto "domestically manufactured" semi-auto rifles again. i.e.: ar-15, ar-10, DSA FAL, etc.

You wont be able to import a DAMN thing.

BUT, you can reconfigure your postbans to preban if it were to sunset.