The Department of Energy is amending its energy efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers, it said in a final rule released Dec. 20. Specifically, the agency is increasing minimum required efficiency standards for non-display doors for walk-in freezers and coolers, as well as for refrigeration systems for walk-in freezers and coolers. DOE isn't amending its standards for display doors or panels. The compliance with the changes for non-display doors is required beginning Dec. 23, 2027, and for refrigeration systems, beginning Dec. 31, 2028.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Dec. 20 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 Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register Dec. 20 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 said it's rescinding the administrative review of the countervailing duty order on ceramic tile from China (C-570-109) for the period of review Jan. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2023, because there were no reviewable, suspended entries of subject merchandise during the review period for the one company for which the review had been requested -- Cayenne Corporation Ltd. As such, cash deposit rates will not change and the current cash deposit requirements shall remain in effect until further notice. Commerce will instruct CBP to assess CVD on all appropriate entries, at rates equal to the cash deposit of estimated CVD required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, it said.
The Commerce Department issued a final determination that imports of aluminum wire and cable from Cambodia made using Chinese inputs aren't circumventing antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum wire and cable from China (A-570-095/C-570-096), nor are they covered by the scope of those AD/CVD orders. As a result, the anti-circumvention and scope inquiries will end without any suspension of liquidation or AD/CVD cash deposit requirements, it said in a Dec. 20 notice. Commerce is still conducting concurrent anti-circumvention inquiries on similar merchandise from South Korea and Vietnam, having preliminarily found circumvention for those two countries (see 2408060034).
The Commerce Department on Dec. 20 published its quarterly list of (i) completed antidumping and countervailing duty scope rulings and (ii) anti-circumvention determinations. The following list covers completed scope rulings for the period July 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2024:
The Commerce Department has published the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review on stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from Taiwan (A-583-831). These final results will be used to set final assessments of AD on importers for subject merchandise entered July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls Dec. 19:
The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending the USDA organic regulations to “clarify standards” for organic mushrooms and pet food, it said. The final rule, released Dec. 20, covers topics including “mushroom substrate composition and sourcing of mushroom spawn in organic mushroom production, composting requirements for organic mushroom production, composition and labeling requirements for organic pet food, and the use of certain synthetic substances, including taurine, in organic pet food,” AMS said. It takes effect Feb. 21, 2025, but organic operations have until Feb. 22, 2027, to comply with the new provisions.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is increasing assessments on importers and producers of watermelons under its watermelon promotion order, citing inflation. The rate hadn’t been increased since 2008, AMS said. Effective Jan. 22, assessments on importers of more than 150,000 pounds of watermelon per year will rise from 6 cents per hundredweight to 9 cents per hundredweight, a 50% increase.