International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Barely more than half of the pharmaceuticals' value consumed in the U.S. is domestically produced, but re-shoring is not the answer to vulnerabilities in the supply chains for drugs or medical equipment, panelists said at a think tank event.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the June 3 Federal Register on the following AD/CVD injury, Section 337 patent or other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):
The International Trade Commission seeks comments by June 7 on a Section 337 complaint recently filed by Milwaukee Electric Tool and Keter seeking a ban on imports of storage containers and toolboxes, organizers, component boxes, coolers, and accessories from Klein Tools that allegedly infringe on their patents. In their May 23 complaint, Milwaukee Tool and Keter said Klein Tools’ Modbox line of modular containers rely on the patented technology used in Milwaukee Tools’ Packout modular storage products. Milwaukee Tool and Keter seek a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order against Klein Tools.
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register June 3 on the following AD/CV duty proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
The Commerce Department is giving advance notice that in automatic five-year sunset reviews scheduled to begin in July it will consider revoking the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from India (A-533-820/C-570-821), Indonesia (A-560-812/C-560-813) and Thailand (A-549-817/C-549-818); laminated woven sacks from China (A-570-916/C-570-917); sodium nitrite from China (A-570-925/C-570-926); and steel propane cylinders from China (A-570-086/C-570-087); as well as the antidumping duty orders on hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from China (A-570-865), Taiwan (A-583-835) and Ukraine (A-823-811); persulfates from China (A-570-847); sodium nitrite from Germany (A-428-851); steel propane cylinders from Thailand (A-549-839); and steel wire garment hangers from China (A-570-918). These orders will be revoked, or the investigation terminated, unless Commerce finds that revocation would lead to dumping and the International Trade Commission finds that revocation would result in injury to the U.S. industry, Commerce said.
The Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission began five-year sunset reviews of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on quartz surface products from China (A-570-084/C-570-085) and raw flexible magnets from China (A-570-922/C-570-923), as well as the AD orders on non-malleable cast iron pipe fittings from China (A-570-875) and raw flexible magnets from Taiwan (A-583-842), Commerce said in a notice June 3.
The Commerce Department announced the opportunity to request administrative reviews by June 30 for producers and exporters subject to 36 antidumping duty orders and seven countervailing duty orders with June anniversary dates.
As U.S. and Kenya officials negotiate the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership, they are holding a virtual stakeholder listening session at 9 a.m. East Africa Time on June 7. Those who wish to attend should email MBX.USTR.IAPE@USTR.eop.gov by 4 p.m. East Africa Time on June 6.
A summary of U.S. proposed text for a customs facilitation language in the Kenya-U.S. Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership says it is asking Kenya to publish all international trade information online, and to answer questions about trade without charging for the contact. It asks Kenya to maintain uniform procedures on advance rulings, and to provide appeals for customs administration issues. It asks Kenya to adopt a single window system for electronic forms and supporting documents, and to allow for immediate release of goods prior to a final determination of duties through customs bonds, and to accept electronic payment of duties.