Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., and Neal Dunn, R-Fla., introduced a bill to change the scope of packages eligible for de minimis. No bill text was available Jan. 10 from Suozzi's office, but former Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said before he retired that Suozzi would be taking over his push to curtail de minimis.
The country of origin for Corning Optical Communications’ fiber optic cables is France, and as such, the cables aren't subject to Section 301 measures even though part of the manufacturing process occurred in China, a CBP ruling released earlier this month said.
The International Trade Commission is temporarily suspending enforcement of a limited exclusion order (LEO) banning importation and sale of plastic food trays by Ningbo Linhua Plastic Co., Ltd., that infringe patents held by Clearly Clean Products, it said in a notice to be published Jan. 10. The ITC originally issued the LEO in February 2021 (see 2103020015). The ITC is suspending the LEO because, "the subject patent claims were found unpatentable by the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board," overruling the complainant's opposition. However, the ITC has "determined to grant partial relief and to temporarily suspend enforcement of the LEO pending the cancellation of its subject patent claims or the reversal or vacatur of the Federal Circuit’s decisions," because the "LEO’s patent claims are still subject to U.S. Supreme Court appeal."
The Court of International Trade on Jan. 8 denied the government's bid for default judgment against importer Rayson Global and its owner and CEO Doris Cheng in a customs penalty case, with Judge Timothy Stanceu taking issue with the U.S. claim for a monetary penalty totaling nearly $3.4 million.
A policy analyst with Washington think tank Information Technology and Innovation Foundation argues that CBP should conduct randomized audits using forensic testing technology to ensure that goods imported from Chinese e-commerce platforms, such as Temu, are abiding by federal regulations aimed at preventing the use of forced labor from the Uyghur Autonomous Region in China.
Textile industry representatives questioned the logic of the Section 301 investigation on Nicaragua's human rights and labor rights violations, arguing that while they deplore the despotism of Nicaragua's leaders, none of the actions burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Rather, if the government were to decide that Nicaragua's violations merited the withdrawal of tariff benefits for its apparel exports, that action is what would burden U.S. commerce.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is restricting imports of live animal commodities originating from or transiting through Belize, after detecting New World screwworm in cattle in the country, USDA said in a news release Jan. 7.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Jan. 8 heard oral argument in the massive Section 301 litigation, primarily probing the litigants' positions regarding how to interpret the term "modify" in the statute and whether the statute allows the U.S. trade representative to impose duties in response to retaliatory measures from China (HMTX Industries v. United States, Fed. Cir. # 23-1891).
The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on float glass products from China and Malaysia (A-570-188/C-570-189, A-557-832/C-557-833). The CVD investigations cover entries for the calendar year 2023. The AD investigation on Malaysia covers entries Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024, and the AD investigation on China covers entries April 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2024.
The Commerce Department is lowering antidumping duty cash deposit rates currently in effect for some exporters of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from Malaysia (A-557-830), amending the preliminary determination it issued in early December to correct errors in its rate calculations. The revised rates are applicable for entries on or after Jan. 6, though suspension of liquidation and cash deposit requirements remain in effect for entries on or after Dec. 4.