The International Trade Commission is beginning a Section 337 investigation on allegations that imports of rechargeable batteries are infringing patents held by LithiumHub and its owner, Martin Koebler, the ITC said in an Oct. 21 notice. In their Sept. 12 complaint (see 2409190025), LithiumHub and Koebler said Bass Pro Outdoor World, Cabela’s, Navico Group Americas, Relion Battery (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Renogy New Energy Co., RNG International, Clean Republic SODO, Shenzhen Yichen S-Power Tech Co., Shenzhen FBtech Electronics, Shenzhen LiTime Technology Co., Dragonfly Energy Corp., Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. and MillerTech Energy Solutions LLC are manufacturing or importing infringing lithium-ion batteries with 6V or more electrical potential that incorporate LithiumHub and Koebler’s patented technologies. The ITC will consider a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against those companies.
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register Oct. 22 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):
Importers of wooden cabinets and vanities from Malaysia and Vietnam that want to file a certification to avoid antidumping and countervailing duties don’t need to file a post-summary correction to do so, the Commerce Department said in a correction to a notice issued in July. Instead, importers should upload such certifications to CBP’s Document Image System (DIS), it said in a notice released Oct. 22.
The Commerce Department has published the final results of its countervailing duty administrative review on certain new pneumatic off-the-road tires from India (C-533-870). The agency calculated new CVD cash deposit rates for the 29 companies under review, making changes from its preliminary results. These final results will be used to set final assessments of CVD on importers for entries during calendar year 2022.
There has been some concern that South Africa could be removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiary list over its government's lack of support for Ukraine after Russia invaded (see 2307120041). Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who voted against sending financial and military aid to Ukraine earlier this year, is arguing that South Africa should be booted from AGOA coverage if Taiwan's diplomatic office is closed in Pretoria. The South African government has demanded that Taiwan move its office to Johannesburg, the country's most important commercial city. Taiwan has so far refused.
Predictions of inflation and lost exports if Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump re-wins the White House and imposes global tariffs are well-trod ground.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the weeks of Oct. 7-13 and Oct. 14-20:
A listing of recent Commerce Department antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted on CBP's website Oct. 21, 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.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.