CBP finalized its December 2022 interim final rule that moved the responsibility for administering refunds, reduced tax rates and tax credits on imported alcohol from CBP to the Treasury Department. In a notice released March 5, CBP formally adopted changes that took effect in January 2023 that moved the responsibility of the Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) from CBP to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) within Treasury (see 2209220065). The change was required by the Tax Relief Act of 2020, which made CBMA permanent but transferred its administration to the TTB. The rule takes effect March 6.
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.
The European Council and Parliament reached a deal on a new set of rules to ban imports suspected of being made with forced labor, including how the ban will be enforced and how the bloc will investigate and penalize violations.
CBP didn't prematurely suspend liquidation of two entries prior to the beginning of an Enforce and Protect Act investigation, the agency said in a newly released ruling. The ruling, dated Jan. 3, denied a protest from Crude Chem Technology, which had argued that CBP was required by law to extend liquidation on the entries, not suspend it.
The Canada Border Services Agency is expecting "movement" on a bill that will prohibit goods from Xinjiang from entering Canada, Stephanie Briere, the director of commercial programs for the agency, said at a North Country Chamber of Commerce webinar on Feb. 29. S-204, first introduced in November 2021, would ban imports that were manufactured or produced wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Florida golden aster (Chrysopsis floridana), a "short-lived perennial," from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule released March 4. An FWS review indicated that “threats to the species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species," the agency said. The delisting takes effect April 4.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the March 4 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):
Medtronic seeks a ban on imports of medical programmers with printed circuit boards from Axonics that allegedly infringe on its patents, it told the International Trade Commission in a Section 337 complaint filed last week. Medtronic says Axonics is importing sacral neuromodulation systems that rely on its patented technology, including devices for use with Axonics’ F15 and R20 sacral neuromodulation systems. The surgically implanted systems are used to control symptoms of overactive bladder, non-obstructive urinary retention, and chronic fecal incontinence through neural stimulation. Medtronic seeks a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order banning importation and sale of infringing products from Axonics. Comments are due to the ITC March 12.
The International Trade Commission will consider whether to issue a general exclusion order banning all imports of network equipment supporting NETCONF standards that allegedly infringe patents held by Optimum Communications Services (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1391), the ITC said in a March 4 notice. Optimum's January complaint said imports of the goods, used for network management systems for managing remote network elements, violate Section 337 by infringing on its patented technologies that “improve cost-efficiency, reliability and performance of network configuration and monitoring" (see 2401250040). The ITC will also consider cease and desist orders against Changsha Silun, Hunan Maiqiang, Hunan Zikun and Guangzhou Qiton, it said.
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register March 4 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):