The House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation on March 7, 2012 that strengthens sanctions against the Syrian regime. The Syria Freedom Support Act (H.R. 2106) imposes new sanctions targeting the Syrian energy and financial sectors, and proliferation activities. Among other measures, the bill also contains new sanctions targeting top regime officials, a visa ban on persons who provide the Syrian regime with military equipment, and authorization for financial and political assistance to entities that support a peaceful democratic transition in Syria.
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 Department of Energy announced that it is establishing the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC), which will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters concerning the DOE’s Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program’s test procedures and rulemaking process. Nominations for members are due by April 2, 2012.
On March 7, 2012 the following trade-related bill was introduced:
On March 6, 2012 the Senate resumed consideration of S. 1813, which would reauthorize the Federal-Aid Highway and highway safety construction programs. On March 7, 2012 the Senate agreed to proceed to consideration of amendments to the bill starting March 8 and, if the package of amendments is agreed to, S. 1813 will be up for full Senate vote.
At the February 21, 2012 COAC meeting, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the agency was developing a 5-year antidumping and countervailing duty enforcement strategy as well as a trade intelligence program, while COAC’s AD/CV Subcommittee expressed interest in AD/CV retrospective, bonding, and scope review issues.
The International Trade Administration has issued the preliminary results of its administrative review of the antidumping duty order on folding metal tables and chairs from China (A-570-868) for one exporter. These preliminary results are not in effect. The ITA may modify them in the final results of this review and change the estimated AD cash deposit rate for this company.
According to the International Trade Commission, a section 337 patent complaint on certain consumer electronics and display devices and products containing same, was filed on behalf of Graphics Properties Holdings Inc. on March 5, 2012. Proposed respondents are:
The International Trade Administration has issued the preliminary results of its administrative review of the antidumping duty order on silicon metal from China (A-570-806) for one exporter. These preliminary results are not in effect. The ITA may modify them in the final results of this review and change the estimated AD cash deposit rate for this company.
The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by approximately March 15, 2012 on a patent complaint filed on behalf of Align Technology, which alleges violations of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the U.S., the sale for importation, and the sale within the U.S. after importation of certain digital models, digital data, and treatment plans for use in making incremental dental positioning adjustment appliances, the appliances made therefrom, and methods of making the same (D/N 2880). ITC is asking for comments on any public interest issues that might affect ITC consideration, including whether the issuance of an exclusion order and/or cease and desist order would impact the public interest.
On March 6, 2012 the following trade-related bill was introduced: