At two separate Congressional hearings on March 7, 2012, representatives of the American Association of Port Authorities emphasized the need for federal support for seaport security and maintenance improvements to federal navigation channels, noting the challenges that underfunding security and dredging pose for national security and U.S. international competitiveness.
Brian Feito
Brian Feito is Managing Editor of International Trade Today, Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. A licensed customs broker who spent time at the Department of Commerce calculating antidumping and countervailing duties, Brian covers a wide range of subjects including customs and trade-facing product regulation, the courts, antidumping and countervailing duties and Mexico and the European Union. Brian is a graduate of the University of Florida and George Mason University. He joined the staff of Warren Communications News in 2012.
The International Trade Administration is amending the final results for its recently published antidumping duty administrative review of small diameter graphite electrodes from China (A-570-929) in order to correct an error in the AD cash deposit rate for three exporters. The amended rates, which are effective March 14, 2012, are expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen fish fillets from Vietnam (A-552-801) which sets AD cash deposit rates for 13 manufacturer/exporters, continues the Vietnam-wide cash deposit rate from the last review, and rescinds the review with respect to four companies1 that reported no shipments of subject merchandise. These rates, which are effective March 14, 2012, are expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
According to the International Trade Commission, a section 337 patent complaint on certain audiovisual components and products containing the same, was filed on behalf of LSI Corporation and Agere Systems Inc. on March 12, 2012. Proposed respondents are:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the 33rd Session of the Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) concluded on March 9 in Budapest, Hungary. The Committee focused on three main agenda items: the proposed draft Principles for the Use of Sampling and Testing in International Food Trade, the endorsement of methods of analysis provisions in Codex standards, and provisions on the use of propriety methods in Codex standards.
On March 13, 2012, President Obama signed H.R. 4105 into law, amending 19 USC 1671 so that the countervailing duties on non-market economy (NME) countries, such as China and Vietnam, can continue to apply and adjustments of antidumping margins for double counting can be made. These changes were needed in light of certain court and WTO rulings.
The International Trade Administration unveiled a new version of the interagency intellectual property rights (IPR) resource and information website www.STOPfakes.gov, which ITA states is particularly relevant to small and medium-sized businesses. Among other features, a self-paced IPR tutorial is available in several languages, users can report IPR theft to federal law enforcement and obtain a free one-hour consultation with a lawyer knowledgeable on IPR protection, and manuals are available on foreign IPR systems.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission announced that it will be holding a hearing on March 26, 2012 in Manassas, Virginia. This hearing, the third that the USCC will hold during its 2012 report cycle to collect input from academic, industry, and government experts on national security implications of the U.S. bilateral trade and economic relationship with China, will examine recent trends in China’s computer exploitations and China’s nuclear forces and strategies. Written statements are due from interested parties by March 23, 2012. Reservations are not required to attend the hearing.
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced that the United States has requested consultations with China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning China’s export restraints on rare earths, as well as tungsten and molybdenum. USTR states that these materials are key inputs in a multitude of U.S. products and manufacturing sectors, including hybrid car batteries, wind turbines, energy efficient lighting, steel, advanced electronics, automobiles, petroleum, and chemicals.
On March 13, 2012, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1813, a bill that would reauthorize the Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for two years. According to the Senate, several amendments would be voted on during March 13 debate, culminating with a vote on the bill. On March 8, 2012 three amendments were adopted by the Senate, including one on special measures against foreign jurisdictions that impede U.S. tax enforcement.