Danielle Fumagalli was named acting assistant U.S. trade representative for Japan, Korea, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Affairs, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a news release July 3. Fumagalli had been deputy assistant USTR in the same office, and had helped negotiate the U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals Agreement.
A former top trade negotiator in Mexico, Juan Carlos Baker Pineda, said he doesn't think the review of the USMCA will be about fine-tuning or technical changes to the trade pact.
Canada this week launched a 30-day consultation period as it decides whether to impose additional duties or take other measures against Chinese electronic vehicle imports. The consultations, which began July 2 and will run through Aug. 1, “seek views on potential policy responses,” Canada said, including new tariffs on a range of battery, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura rainierensis), a bird subspecies in Washington, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for this species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Aug. 2.
The International Trade Commission seeks comments by July 10 on a Section 337 complaint filed by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries seeking a ban on photodynamic therapy systems and associated pharmaceuticals from Biofrontera that allegedly infringe on its patents. In its June 26 complaint, 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 company seeks a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders banning importation and sale of infringing devices and drugs from Biofrontera.
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register July 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 recognizing the name change and corporate reorganization of an Indian company for the purposes of an antidumping duty order on frozen warmwater shrimp from India (A-533-840), it said in a notice of the final results of a changed circumstances review. The agency confirmed its preliminary finding that Varma Marine Private Limited (Varma) is the successor-in-interest to Varma Marine, saying that Varma continues to operate as the same business entity following a takeover agreement to transfer all Varma Marine assets to Varma, such that Varma operates as essentially the same business entity as Varma Marine with respect to the production and sale of subject merchandise. Commerce said that effective July 3, Varma now inherits the AD rate assigned to Varma Marine, which is currently 3.88%. (For a summary of the preliminary results of this changed circumstances review, see 2405100057.)
The Commerce Department is extending until Sept. 23 the deadline for its preliminary determinations in the countervailing duty investigations on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from Cambodia (C-555-004), Malaysia (C-557/831), Thailand (C-549-852) and Vietnam (C-552-842), it said in a notice July 3. The preliminary determination had been due by July 18 (see 2405170026). The agency decided to postpone after the petitioner that requested the investigation, the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, asked for an extension. Cash deposits of estimated CV duties can be collected only after the preliminary determination, although cash deposits can be made retroactive 90 days from the preliminary determination if Commerce finds “critical circumstances.”
The Commerce Department released the preliminary results of its antidumping duty administrative review on cold-drawn mechanical tubing of carbon and alloy steel from India (A-533-873). Rates calculated in this review will be used to set assessment rates for importers of subject merchandise that was entered June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2023.
The Commerce Department began administrative reviews for certain firms subject to antidumping and countervailing duty orders with May anniversary dates. Producers and exporters subject to any of these administrative reviews on China or Vietnam must submit their separate rate certifications or applications on or about Aug. 5 to avoid being assigned high China-wide or Vietnam-wide rates.