The FCC will take on the long-stalled 900 MHz realignment, allowing broadband in the swath that has been used for narrowband communications including two-way dispatch, Chairman Ajit Pai blogged Tuesday, previewing the May 13 meeting agenda. Also slated are regulatory fees for foreign-licensed satellite operators, a proposed streamlining and revision of broadcaster license notifications, and an earth stations in motion (ESIM) order.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to issue export control decisions for most shipments of controlled medical equipment within two days, but some shipments may take as long as four days, a FEMA spokesperson said April 21. Some law firms have advised medical equipment exporters to expect delays at ports across the country as FEMA makes those determinations, which involves a review of “letters of attestation” from exporters, who must certify that they qualify for one of several exemptions FEMA issued this week (see 2004200019).
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of April 13-19:
CBP should update its regulations on prior disclosures to clarify the requirements and benefits of prior disclosures of forced labor violations, the Commercial Customs Operation Advisory Committee said in recommendations adopted at the April 15 COAC meeting. Regulations on forced labor should also be amended, and guidance documents issued, to clarify what should be included in a forced labor allegation, as well as how CBP should inquire about potential violations and how importers should respond, the COAC said.
FCC workers and their National Treasury Employees Union praise the agency's precautions to protect employees from COVID-19. But NTEU filed an unfair labor practices grievance against the agency Monday over continuing contract negotiations during the pandemic, President Tony Reardon emailed us. The FCC acted faster than some other federal agencies, but critics told us none has responded quickly or well.
Recently requested antidumping duties on mattresses from seven countries would “needlessly” raise the cost to U.S. companies and hospitals fighting the COVID-19 pandemic “at the worst possible time,” said Ashley Furniture, an importer and domestic manufacturer of mattresses, in comments to the Commerce Department opposing the initiation of any AD duty investigations based on the petitions.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of April 6-12:
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of March 30 - April 5:
The recently announced exclusions from the Section 301 tariffs on the third list of products from China (see 2003230043) seem to be unintentionally limited by the statutory liquidation timelines, lawyer Chris Kane said in a March 31 LinkedIn post. While the notice allows for retroactive applicability to Sept. 18, 2018, when those tariffs took effect, it's not clear that importers have any way to be fully refunded for that period, he said. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative published the official notice with numerous tranche three exclusions on March 26 (see 2003230043).
A U.S. manufacturer seeks the imposition of new antidumping and countervailing duties on non-refillable cylinders from China, it said in a petition filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission March 26. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CV duty orders and the assessment of AD and CV duties on importers.