The Commerce Department published notices in the April 7 Federal Register 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):
The Commerce Department issued the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review on steel nails from China (A-570-909). The agency lowered AD rates for many Chinese companies since it issued its preliminary results in September. These final results will be used to set final assessments of AD duties on importers for entries between Aug. 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012. New AD duty cash deposit rates set in this review will take effect April 8.
The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled Thursday on a patent case with potential implications for the agency's handling of electronic transmissions. But patent lawyers told us April 4 that an initial notice on the ruling indicates there’s been no change in ITC precedent. The ITC ruled that invisible teeth-straightening system manufacturer ClearCorrect violated five of Invisalign manufacturer Align Technology’s patents under Section 337 of the Tariff Act, but didn't infringe on two others (here). ClearCorrect said it plans to appeal.
The Commerce Department slightly lowered antidumping duty rates for some exporters in its final determination in the investigation on diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated flat-rolled steel from Japan, said the agency in an April 4 fact sheet. Commerce kept rates at 77.7% for Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, but lowered rates from 47.8% to 45.42% for all other Japanese companies, including Toyo. As a result of its final affirmative determinations, Commerce will direct CBP to continue to collect cash deposits.
The Environmental Protection Agency is reopening the comment period until May 8 on its proposed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) standards for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. The agency will also hold a public meeting on the proposal on April 28 in Washington, D.C. The June 2013 proposed rule would impose recordkeeping requirements on importers of subject products, and would require TSCA import certifications for all subject products, including those defined in the Customs regulations as “articles” (see 13060715).
On April 4 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
The Food and Drug Administration threatened action against a New York fish importer because of alleged violations of seafood hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) regulations. FDA’s March 20 warning letter said the agency had already in November 2013 found decomposition in a shipment of frozen vacuum packed raw ground tuna imported by Best Choice Trading in Brooklyn. A subsequent inspection in February allegedly found HACCP violations, FDA said. The agency said it will now conduct a reinspection to see if Best Choice has brought itself into compliance, and may assess fees on Best Choice to cover reinspection costs.
The Food and Drug Administration told two drug companies in separate warning letters it will refuse entry of their active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) unless they correct violations of current good manufacturing practice requirements (CGMP). In a letter dated March 18 sent to GlaxoSmithKline (here), FDA said CGMP violations at the company’s Cork, Ireland facility may result in APIs from that facility being placed on import alert and being refused admission. Meanwhile, an agency warning letter dated March 6 told Smruthi Organics in India that its APIs will continue to be refused admission into the U.S. because of persisting CGMP violations (here).
On April 4 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for April 7: