Comments are due to the International Trade Commission by Jan. 13 on a potential Section 337 investigation on thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonists, it said in a notice. The notice follows a Dec. 29 complaint by Viking Therapeutics, which seeks to exclude certain selective thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonists of the companies Ascletis Bioscience, Ascletis Pharma, Ascletis Pharmaceuticals and Gannex Pharma, which Viking says import thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonists that use and are made from the "unlawfully misappropriated" trade secrets belonging to Viking. The complaint also names Jinzi "Jason" Wu, founder of Ascletis Pharma, who is currently CEO and chairman of the board. Viking seeks a permanent limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders.
Carbon dioxide cartridges designed for use in air guns are properly classified in subheading 2811.21.00 as “Other inorganic acids and other inorganic oxygen compounds of nonmetals: Other inorganic oxygen compounds of nonmetals: Carbon dioxide,” CBP said in a Dec. 16 Headquarters Ruling. The ruling was made in response to a request by Crosman to reconsider an earlier New York office ruling. Crosman asked CBP to reclassify the cartridges under subheading 9305.99.50 as gun parts and accessories.
The International Trade Commission posted the 2023 Basic Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The new HTS implements the removal of AGOA benefits for Burkina Faso, as well as a lengthy list of 10-digit level changes including a bevy of new organic provisions for fruits and vegetables, more detailed provisions for plywood of tropical wood, and new tariff breakouts for pillows. Changes were effective as of Jan. 1 unless otherwise noted.
The International Trade Commission has determined to issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order against imported Apple Watches for patent infringement (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1266) but suspended the enforcement pending a patent decision by the Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board, it said in a notice released Dec. 29.
The International Trade Commission has begun a formal Section 337 investigation on imported location-sharing systems and related software and components (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1347), it said in a Federal Register notice. The investigation follows a Nov. 16 by Advanced Ground Information Systems (AGIS). The complaint alleges that Google, Samsung, OnePlus Technology, TCL Technology Group, TCT Mobile, Motorola Mobility, Lenovo, HMD, Sony, ASUSTek, ASUS Computer, Caterpillar, BLU Products, Panasonic, Kyocera, Xiaomi and related companies and subsidiaries import smart phones and similar products that infringe on five patents held by AGIS, covering forced message alert software, interactive mapping and network setup tools. AGIS has asked the ITC for a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
The ITC on Dec. 27 began a Section 337 investigation into allegations from KUB Technologies that imports of X-ray and optical camera systems are infringing on its patents, the ITC said in a news release (Inv. No. 337-TA-1348). In its Nov. 23 complaint, Kubtec alleged four Chinese and one U.S. company imported cabinet X-ray systems that copied Kubtec's patented technology for rapid-result X-ray images (see 2211290044). The ITC will consider a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against CompAI Healthcare (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.; CompAI Healthcare (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.; Kangpai Medical Technology (Changchun) Co., Ltd.; Kangpai (Beijing) Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.; and Dilon Technologies, Inc.
The Department of Commerce preliminarily determined that certain types of truck wheels that Asia Wheel manufactures in its facilities in Thailand and exports to the U.S. are subject to the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain steel wheels 22.5 to 24.5 inches in diameter from China, according to a Dec. 13 preliminary scope ruling.
The newly shuffled Congress likely will have areas of bipartisan agreement around trade and industrial policy, experts said during a Dec. 14 webinar hosted by Crowell & Moring. There likely will be bipartisan bills aimed at strengthening and reshoring U.S. production in critical sectors like rare mineral extraction and electronics in the vein of the Chips Act, the firm's senior policy director Scott Douglas said. With competition with China at the "top of mind" for both parties, "a host of Buy American" or similar issues are likely to be passed by Congress that could involve changes in trade policy, environmental standards or labor issues, Kate Beale, another senior policy director, said.
The U.S. is looking to make progress on trade facilitation, agriculture, and regulatory practices at the upcoming Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) meeting in Brisbane on Dec. 10, senior administration officials said during a Dec. 7 call with reporters. Brisbane will be the first of several negotiation rounds conducted in-person.
Aluminum pair ramps imported by Central Purchasing, LLC (dba Harbor Freight Tools), are not covered by the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on aluminum extrusions from China (A-570-967/C-570-968), the Commerce Department said in a scope ruling dated Oct. 31. The ruling followed a February 2021 request from Harbor Freight to determine whether three models of aluminum pair ramps were covered by the orders.