The International Trade Commission is requesting public input by Feb. 7 on how it can improve its presentation of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, it said in a notice to be published Jan. 8. Specifically, the ITC is looking for ways to improve navigability, usability and accessibility of the HTSUS information, as well as ways to compare changes made in the HTSUS.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Jan. 7 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 Jan. 16 on a Section 337 complaint alleging that imports of "certain dryer wall exhaust vent assemblies and components thereof" infringe patents held by InOvate Acquisition Company, it said in a notice to be published Jan. 8. According to the complaint, InOvate is seeking a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against Chinese company Xiamen Dirongte Trading Co. for the import and sale of "certain wall exhaust vents that infringe one or more claims of" the patented technology. The complainant describes the product at issue as "a wall exhaust vent that consumers use to cover an outdoor side of a wall exhaust outlet from outside contaminates such as pests, small animals, and debris."
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register Jan. 7 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 intends to recognize four Canadian companies as cross-owned entities for the purposes of countervailing duties on softwood lumber products from Canada (C-122-858). The agency in the preliminary results of a changed circumstances review found Interfor Sales & Marketing Ltd. (ISM) is cross-owned with Interfor Corporation, EACOM Timber Corporation, Chaleur Forest Products Inc., and Chaleur Forest Products LP, four producers/exporters also subject to the CVD order on certain softwood lumber from Canada. Commerce noted that the purpose of the CCR doesn't include identifying the applicable cash deposit rates for the companies in question but said that all four already have been assigned the cash deposit rate that non-selected companies have.
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.
On Jan. 6, the FDA posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
The FDA published final guidance establishing new action levels for lead in processed foods intended for babies and young children. The guidance, released by the agency on Jan. 6, sets a lead action level at 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain- and meat-based mixtures), yogurts, custards/puddings, and single-ingredient meats; 20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables; and 20 ppb for dry infant cereals. The guidance doesn't cover "infant formula, beverages, or snack foods like puffs and teething biscuits," as the FDA is collecting additional data on these items.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative published a series of policy papers focused on improving supply chain resilience. The series, titled Adapting Trade Policy for Supply Chain Resilience: Responding to Today’s Global Economic Challenges, features six papers informed by public hearings the agency held earlier this year (see 2405010016 and 2405020075). These policy papers "remind us of where we have traveled, acknowledge the challenges that shape our journey today, and light our path ahead to better serving all Americans for generations to come," U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said.
Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., introduced House Resolution 2 this week, to create a Joint Ad Hoc Committee to design a plan where the functions and responsibilities of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative would be moved to the legislative branch, since the Constitution gives the power to regulate trade to Congress.