The International Trade Commission has announced that it is considering what the effects of a general exclusion order directed against certain handbags, luggage, accessories, and packaging thereof (337-TA-754) would have upon the public welfare, competition conditions in the U.S., and U.S. consumers, in light of a March 5, 2012 Administrative Law Judge recommended determination on remedy and bonding. Comments are due by April 4, 2012.
The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by approximately March 23, 2012 on an amended patent complaint filed on behalf of Immersion Corporation on March 2, 2012, which alleges violations of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the U.S., the sale for importation, and the sale within the U.S. after importation of certain mobile electronic devices incorporating haptics (D/N 2875). ITC is asking for comments on any public interest issues that might affect ITC consideration, including whether the issuance of an exclusion order and/or cease and desist order would impact the public interest.
According to the International Trade Commission, a section 337 patent complaint on certain consumer electronics, including mobile phones and tablets, was filed on behalf of Pragmatus AV, LLC on March 13, 2012. Proposed respondents are:
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on 1-hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-diphosphonic acid from India (A-533-847) which sets the AD cash deposit rate for one manufacturer/exporter. This rate, which is effective March 15, 2012, is expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
The International Trade Commission has made a determination in its five year sunset review of the antidumping duty order on certain orange juice from Brazil, concluding that revoking this order would not be likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. As a result of this ITC negative determination, the International Trade Administration will publish a notice revoking this order.
On March 14, 2012, the Coalition for Sugar Reform submitted testimony to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, lambasting the current sugar program as outmoded and counterproductive, and calling for its abolishment or revamp in the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill. According to the testimony, U.S. sugar subsidies hurt consumers by artificially raising prices, hurt small businesses by artificially restricting supplies, and hurt workers by encouraging relocation of manufacturing facilities offshore. The Coalition stated that, due to changes to the sugar subsidy regime in the 2008 Farm Bill, U.S. sugar prices are currently at record highs and are substantially higher than world prices.
On March 14, 2012, the Senate passed S. 1813, a bill to reauthorize the Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for two years. The bill, also known as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), would maintain funding at current levels, indexed for inflation, among other things. Press reports indicate that the House must take up the bill quickly, as current highway funding expires on March 31, 2012.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the 33rd Session of the Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) concluded on March 9 in Budapest, Hungary. The Committee focused on three main agenda items: the proposed draft Principles for the Use of Sampling and Testing in International Food Trade, the endorsement of methods of analysis provisions in Codex standards, and provisions on the use of propriety methods in Codex standards.
The International Trade Administration unveiled a new version of the interagency intellectual property rights (IPR) resource and information website www.STOPfakes.gov, which ITA states is particularly relevant to small and medium-sized businesses. Among other features, a self-paced IPR tutorial is available in several languages, users can report IPR theft to federal law enforcement and obtain a free one-hour consultation with a lawyer knowledgeable on IPR protection, and manuals are available on foreign IPR systems.
According to the International Trade Commission, a section 337 patent complaint on certain audiovisual components and products containing the same, was filed on behalf of LSI Corporation and Agere Systems Inc. on March 12, 2012. Proposed respondents are: