The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has announced that as of August 7, 2009, D-Trade1 (aka D-Trade) is offline and no longer in service, and all industry must utilize the D-Trade2 (currently version 2.11) to submit new license applications.
CBP has posted a memorandum announcing a special import quota of 13,407,416 kg for upland cotton that is provided for in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter III, U.S. Note 6 and is entered under HTS 9903.52.56. (CBP notes that this quantity is not subject to the tariff rate quotas in Chapter 52 Additional U.S. Notes 5 through 10.)
The technologies developed by Internet and software companies can’t be subject to a “backward-looking” patent- eligibility test, Yahoo said in an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court last week. The court is reviewing a 2008 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that narrowed the scope of subject matter that can be patented, to what’s “tied to a particular machine or apparatus” or “transforms a particular article into a different state or thing.” Yahoo said it wasn’t supporting either party in the Bilski case, which revolves around a rejected patent on managing risk when buying or selling energy commodities.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is expected to publish a Federal Register notice containing revised enforcement requirements for the Lacey Act Declaration for plants and plant products before October 1, 2009, the date the next phase of implementation is scheduled to begin1.
On August 5, 2009, Secretary of State Clinton addressed the 8th Forum of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Secretary Clinton stated that the Administration is exploring ways to lower global trade barriers to ease the burdens on Africa's farmers and producers. During her remarks, Secretary Clinton noted the possible benefits that could be achieved through greater product diversification and a reduction in intra-Africa trade barriers. (Remarks, dated 08/05/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/08/126902.htm.)
Broadband providers played tug-of-war with states and public interest groups in comments last week on how the FCC should release combined broadband data based on Form 477 submissions while maintaining confidentiality. Companies asked the commission to protect their deployment and speed information strongly. But others asked the FCC to share as much information as possible with the state bodies and others involved in broadband mapping eligible to see it. The Broadband Data Improvement Act requires the commission to provide aggregated data by census tract.
Broadband providers played tug-of-war with states and public interest groups in comments last week on how the FCC should release combined broadband data based on Form 477 submissions while maintaining confidentiality. Companies asked the commission to protect their deployment and speed information strongly. But others asked the FCC to share as much information as possible with the state bodies and others involved in broadband mapping eligible to see it. The Broadband Data Improvement Act requires the commission to provide aggregated data by census tract.
The International Trade Commission has announced the institution of investigations and the commencement of preliminary phase antidumping and countervailing duty injury investigations regarding certain magnesia carbon bricks (MCBs) from China and Mexico.
P2P software is a grave threat to U.S. security, children and even criminal trials, lawmakers and most witnesses said at a House Oversight Committee hearing Wednesday on inadvertent file-sharing. But federal regulators have been slacking off in holding the P2P industry accountable for software features that endanger sensitive information on users’ computers, they said. Chairman Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., said he would introduce a bill to prohibit the installation of P2P software on government and government-contractor computers, one of which was responsible for leaking blueprints for President Barack Obama’s Marine One helicopter. No one mentioned an existing Commerce Committee bill (HR-1319) by Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., that would require finer-grained user controls in P2P software (WID May 6 p2).
"Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions" is a regular feature of International Trade Today. The following are brief summaries of recent Capitol Hill actions.