A bipartisan bill has been introduced to prevent companies that receive Chips Act funding from purchasing tools and equipment made by Chinese firms. Some of the Chips Act funding is aimed at reshoring legacy chip production, and China makes equipment to make those less-sophisticated chips. Most advanced chipmaking machinery is made in the U.S., Japan or the Netherlands.
CBP issued the following release on commercial trade and related matters:
A listing of recent Commerce Department antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted on CBP's website June 18, 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.
Although the prospects for renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act before its expiration next year look positive, the renewal still faces “headwinds” due to an unusually partisan atmosphere on Capitol Hill, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said during a Wilson Center panel June 18.
International Trade Commission member Rhonda Schmidtlein became chairman of the ITC by operation of law, succeeding outgoing chair David Johnason, whose term expired on June 16, the commission announced. She was nominated to the ITC by President Barack Obama in 2013 and previously served as chairman from 2017 to 2018. Prior to joining the commission, Schmidtlein served as a consultant to the World Bank for two years and worked as the founding director of the Office of International Affairs created to implement the obligations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
The Federal Maritime Commission recently reminded carriers about the requirements they must meet to maintain their status before the commission as a vessel-operating common carrier (VOCC), warning they may face penalties if they fail to meet those requirements. The FMC said carriers publishing automated tariffs as VOCCs must “operate at least one vessel in common carriage in the foreign commerce of the United States to maintain their status.” Companies offering common carriage but that don’t operate at least one vessel are considered non-vessel-operating common carriers, the commission said, and must follow the licensing, registration and financial responsibility requirements for NVOCCs. “Operating as an NVOCC and failing to meet all relevant requirements may result in a civil monetary penalty.”
The International Trade Commission published notices in the June 18 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 is beginning a Section 337 investigation on allegations that imports of Netgear Wi-Fi access points, routers, range extenders and controllers infringe patents held by TP-Link, the ITC said in a notice released June 18. In its May 6 complaint (see 2405140079), TP-Link said Netgear’s access points, routers, controllers and range extenders infringe on TP-Link’s patents related to channel selection, network access control, automatic configuration, and traffic rerouting. The ITC will consider whether to issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against Netgear.
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register June 18 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 International Trade Commission seeks comments by June 28 on a Section 337 complaint from Milwaukee Electric Tool and Keter Home and Garden Products 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. After withdrawing a similar complaint it had filed May 23 (see 2406030068), Milwaukee Tool and Keter said in their new complaint that 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.