The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the 44th Session of Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) concluded March 16 in Hangzhou, China, and despite the efforts of an electronic Working Group (eWG), once again, the CCFA failed to resolve the issue of Note 161 to the General Standard of Food Additives (GSFA). The use of this Note has become a critical issue because many countries view the inclusion of national legislation in Codex standards as a trade barrier and contrary to the spirit of Codex. The CCFA also discussed work relating to other revisions of the GSFA.
At the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) meeting on March 6, a Census Bureau official updated attendees on the status of its draft final rule to revise the Automated Export System regulations, including post-departure filing requirements (referred to as Option 4), the steps that must be taken before the final rule is issued, and an informed compliance period once it is published.
The International Trade Administration issued its final affirmative antidumping duty determination on stilbenic optical brightening agents from China (A-570-972), which reduces the AD rates for two firms and the China-wide entity. The final determination, effective March 26, is expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
The International Trade Administration issued its final affirmative antidumping duty determination on bottom mount combination refrigerator-freezers from Mexico (A-201-839), which adjusts the AD rates for four exporter/manufacturers and "all-others". This final determination, which is effective March 26, is expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
The International Trade Administration issued its final affirmative countervailing duty determination on bottom mount combination refrigerator-freezers from Korea (C-580-866) that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of subject merchandise. The ITA found CV rates of de minimis to 12.9%, which are officially effective as of March 26 for all firms. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to implement these CV cash deposit/bond requirements soon.
The International Trade Administration issued its final affirmative antidumping duty determination on bottom mount combination refrigerator-freezers from Korea (A-580-865), which revises the AD rates for "all-others" and all respondents except Daewoo, which maintains its zero AD rate. This final determination, which is effective March 26, is expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
The International Trade Administration issued its final affirmative antidumping duty determination on galvanized steel wire from Mexico (A-201-840), which reduces the AD rates for two manufacturer/exporters and "all-others". This final determination, which is effective March 26, is expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
The International Trade Administration has issued its final affirmative countervailing duty determination on galvanized steel wire from China (C-570-976), which reduces the CV rates for two firms and “all-others”, and increases the CV rates for two firms. As CV liquidation is no longer suspended, ITA will only require cash deposits of estimated CV duties at the revised rates if it issues a CV order.
The International Trade Administration issued its final affirmative antidumping duty determination on galvanized steel wire from China (A-570-975), which increases the AD rates for all respondents1 by 94%, and maintains the AD rate of 235% for the China-wide entity. This final determination, which is effective March 26, 2012, is expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
The International Trade Administration made a preliminary affirmative countervailing duty determination that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from China (C-570-980). The ITA found preliminary CV rates of 2.9% to 4.73% which, as a result of its preliminary determination of critical circumstances for both respondents and “all-others”, are effective on or about December 27, 2011. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to implement these CV cash deposit/bond requirements soon.