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:
The International Trade Administration is amending the final results for its recently published antidumping duty administrative review of small diameter graphite electrodes from China (A-570-929) in order to correct an error in the AD cash deposit rate for three exporters. The amended rates, which are effective March 14, 2012, are expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen fish fillets from Vietnam (A-552-801) which sets AD cash deposit rates for 13 manufacturer/exporters, continues the Vietnam-wide cash deposit rate from the last review, and rescinds the review with respect to four companies1 that reported no shipments of subject merchandise. These rates, which are effective March 14, 2012, are expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
At two separate Congressional hearings on March 7, 2012, representatives of the American Association of Port Authorities emphasized the need for federal support for seaport security and maintenance improvements to federal navigation channels, noting the challenges that underfunding security and dredging pose for national security and U.S. international competitiveness.
On March 13, 2012, President Obama signed H.R. 4105 into law, amending 19 USC 1671 so that the countervailing duties on non-market economy (NME) countries, such as China and Vietnam, can continue to apply and adjustments of antidumping margins for double counting can be made. These changes were needed in light of certain court and WTO rulings.
The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a final rule, effective April 16, 2012, amending 21 CFR Parts 1301 and 1309 to adjust the fee schedule for DEA registration and reregistration fees necessary to recover the costs of the Diversion Control Program relating to the registration and control of the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, importation, and exportation of controlled substances and List I chemicals as mandated by the Controlled Substances Act.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission announced that it will be holding a hearing on March 26, 2012 in Manassas, Virginia. This hearing, the third that the USCC will hold during its 2012 report cycle to collect input from academic, industry, and government experts on national security implications of the U.S. bilateral trade and economic relationship with China, will examine recent trends in China’s computer exploitations and China’s nuclear forces and strategies. Written statements are due from interested parties by March 23, 2012. Reservations are not required to attend the hearing.
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain lined paper products from India (A-533-843) which sets AD cash deposit rates for 35 manufacturer/exporters. These rates, which are effective March 13, 2012, are expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.
On March 8, 2012, seven U.S. Senate Finance Committee members urged U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to preserve the highest standards of protection for trade secrets in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. According to the letter, which was spearheaded by Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Committee member John Kerry (D-MA), trade secrets are among the most valuable assets for many companies, particularly start-ups and SMEs since, unlike patents, they can be protected without registration or other formalities. The letter states that foreign governments have become adept at developing policies which effectively undermine the value of trade secret protection in order to advance national policy goals, at the expense of U.S. industry.