The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of March 13-19. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.1 from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).2 Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements added a laminated composite fabric to Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) list of products not commercially available at Annex 3.25 (here), and the U.S. Colombia TPA (CTPA) list at Annex 3-B (here). The fabric is being added to both lists in unlimited quantities, effective March 18, at the request of Patagonia, Inc. Details of the fabric are as follows:
The International Trade Commission is publishing notices in the March 15 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will appear in another ITT article):
The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by about March 26 on public interest issues raised by Sling Media’s Section 337 patent complaint on electronic devices having placeshifting or display replication functionality. The products allow users to watch their televisions remotely from a computer, tablet or smartphone. Sling Media alleges Belkin International, Monsoon Multimedia, and C2 Microsystems are infringing its patents through imports of the products, and is requesting limited exclusion and cease and desist orders against the companies.
The International Trade Commission issued cease and desist orders and limited exclusion orders blocking imports of digital photo frames and image display devices from Nextar, WinAccord, Aiptek, and Pandigital that infringe patents held by Technology Properties Limited. All four companies were found to be in default in the ITC’s Section 337 investigation. The ITC will require a bond of 100 percent of entered value of covered products for temporary importation during the 60-day Presidential review period. As the investigation has been resolved for all of the other original respondents, the ITC terminated the investigation.
The International Trade Administration issued the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review of steel nails from China (A-570-803). The ITA assigned a zero AD rate to Stanley, so entries manufactured and exported by the company will be liquidated without regard to AD duties, and no cash deposit will be collected. The ITA also rescinded the review for twelve companies,1 so these companies will continue to have the same AD cash deposit rates established in prior reviews. The new rates are effective March 18, and will be implemented by CBP soon.
Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls March 14 (country of manufacture in parentheses):
The Food and Drug Administration debarred Shu Bei Yuan from importing food for five years, in connection with her conviction for false labeling of honey from China in an attempt to evade antidumping duties. The debarment order is effective March 18.
On March 14 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes March 14 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.