The Commerce Department on Aug. 2 released its quarterly update to its annual list of foreign-government subsidies on imported articles of cheese subject to an in-quota rate of duty, for the period Jan. 1 - March 31, 2024. The agency again found that only Canada is providing subsidies, in the form of export assistance.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements is adding several types of nylon and polyester dobby weave fabric to the "short supply list" in Annex 3.25 of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement for items not commercially available in a timely manner, it said in a notice. Powers Manufacturing Company, which does business as Powers Athletic, requested the additions in June. The fabrics, classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings 5407.73.2015, 5407.73.2060, 5407.53.2020 and 5407.53.2060, are being added in unrestricted quantities. Under short supply provisions of CAFTA-DR, fibers, yarns and fabrics listed in Annex 3.25 are provided with tariff preferences under the trade agreement.
Following the lead of House Select Committee on China members, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., introduced a bill Aug. 1 to enhance criminal prosecutions for trade offenses.
A listing of recent Commerce Department antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted on CBP's website Aug. 1, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at CBP's ADCVD Search page.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is sharing draft text with the trade of a bill that would remove goods subject to Section 301 tariffs from the de minimis entry lane, along with any categories deemed "import sensitive" in the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program legislation.
CBP unveiled Aug, 2 a list of proposals further defining just how President Joe Biden expects the agency to implement Biden’s "Detect and Defeat" legislation (see 2407310030) aimed at thwarting fentanyl and other illicit drugs from entering the U.S. via the millions of de minimis shipments or imports that are worth less than $800.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Aug. 31 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 Aug. 9 on a Section 337 complaint recently filed by Infineon Technologies that alleges semiconductor devices from Innoscience are infringing on its patents, the ITC said in a notice Aug. 1. The July 26 complaint said Innoscience is incorporating Infineon’s patented gallium nitride (GaN) technology into its power transistors and circuit products, including GaN-on-Si semiconductor devices, GaN Field Effect Transistors (FETs) and GaN high electron mobility transistors, as well as downstream chips and that incorporate the transistors and circuits. Infineon seeks a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order banning import and sale of infringing products from Innoscience.
The International Trade Commission is terminating a limited exclusion order it had issued to ban imports of graphics processing chips from Realtek (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1318) that infringed on AMD patents, the ITC said in a notice released Aug. 1. The ITC had already ended the LEO as it had applied to TCL in June after TCL and AMD reached a settlement, and is now ending the LEO for Realtek, the only remaining company covered by the order, after Realtek also reached a settlement with AMD. The ITC had issued the limited exclusion order in January (see 2401300074), based on an investigation that it began in June 2022 (see 2206060003).
The International Trade Commission is beginning a Section 337 investigation on allegations that imports of photodynamic therapy systems and associated pharmaceuticals from Biofrontera allegedly infringe on patents held by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, the ITC said in a notice Aug. 1. In a complaint filed in June (see 2407030004), Sun said Biofrontera’s BF-RhodoLED XL and Ameluz prescription medicines infringe on patents related to Sun’s Blu-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator device and its Levulan medication. The devices are used “particularly” to treat dermatological conditions, Biofrontera said. The ITC will consider whether to issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders banning importation and sale of infringing devices and drugs from Biofrontera.