The Commerce Department preliminarily found dumping of imports of ferrosilicon from Venezuela, but no dumping of imports from Russia, it announced in a March 5 fact sheet. That means Commerce will require an AD duty cash deposit of 27.27% on ferrosilicon from Venezuela, beginning on the date the preliminary determination is published. But AD duty cash deposits will not be required on ferrosilicon from Russia until further notice. Commerce is currently set to make its final decision by May 20 for the Venezuela investigation, and July 18 for the Russia investigation. ITT will provide more details on Commerce’s preliminary determinations once they are published in the Federal Register.
The Commerce Department will require cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties on imports of grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) from China (C-570-995) it said in a March 5 fact sheet announcing its preliminary determination. The agency set CV duty cash deposit rates at 49.15% for all Chinese exporters. Cash deposit requirements will take effect upon publication of the preliminary determination. ITT will have details when it is published in the Federal Register.
The Commerce Department will require cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties on monosodium glutamate from China, but will not yet require cash deposits on Indonesian MSG, it said in a March 5 fact sheet announcing its preliminary CV duty determinations. For China, Commerce set CV duty cash deposit rates at 13.41% to 404.03%, depending on the exporter, beginning on the date Commerce publishes its affirmative preliminary determination. But Commerce's negative preliminary determination for Indonesia means imports from that country will avoid cash deposit requirements for the time being. Commerce's antidumping duty preliminary determinations are due in early May, at which time Commerce may suspend liquidation and require AD duty cash deposits. The agency's final decision on CV duties is also due in May. ITT will provide more details on Commerce's preliminary determinations once they are published in the Federal Register.
Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 5 the following voluntary recalls of imported products:
On March 5 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
The $2.5 billion requested for the Food and Drug Administration in the Obama administration’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal “falls far short of what the agency needs to fulfill its responsibilities,” said the Alliance for a Stronger FDA on March 5. The advocacy group, which represents a broad range of nearly 200 non-profits, trade associations and companies, said the 1% increase over FY 2014 levels isn’t nearly enough, and will weaken the agency. “Substantial increases are needed to support FDA’s critical mission,” it said.
On March 5 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will hold a teleconference on March 12 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. EDT with Administrator Kevin Shea and other senior officials to discuss the recently-passed farm bill. The “listening session” will begin with a short overview of the provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014, signed into law by President Barack Obama on Feb. 7 (see 14021012). The officials will then hear comments from stakeholders, said APHIS. The time allotted to each comment will be limited to 3 minutes or less. Registration is required to listen in and participate on the call (here).
The International Trade Administration and the Department of the Interior announced allocations of calendar year 2014 duty exemptions for watch assembly producers located in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The sole 2014 annual duty exemption allocation is for 500,000 to Belair Quartz, Inc.
The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will take another look at whether corporate officers are liable for negligent misstatements on entry documentation, granting on March 5 the government’s request for a rehearing en banc on the issue. The Appeals Court will revisit its decision in Trek Leather, where it found Harish Shadadpuri was not liable for his company’s undervaluation of entries of men’s suits (see 13073025).