The Food Safety and Inspection Service revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries for March 8-14:
The Court of International Trade dismissed Koyo Corp.’s bid for funds under the Continued Dumping and Subsidization Offset Act (also known as the Byrd Amendment) for duties collected pursuant to various antidumping duty orders on tapered roller bearings. Koyo, a domestic tapered roller bearing manufacturer, brought constitutional arguments that were identical to those raised in Pat Huval v. U.S. (see 12031204). Just as in Pat Huval, the court dismissed all of Koyo’s claims as foreclosed by precedent.
The Obama administration is considering extensive changes to NAFTA rules of origin, according to a U.S. Trade Representative request for an International Trade Commission investigation into the amendments. The ITC received the letter March 14. The changes were agreed upon in April 2012 by the NAFTA Free Trade Commission, which comprises representatives of the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican governments, and mark the fourth time the countries have negotiated such wide-ranging rules of origin amendments through the “Track IV” process.
Extending duty-free treatment to more U.S. information and communication technology products through expansion of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) would increase U.S. export opportunities to member countries, said the International Trade Commission in a March 13 report. The report was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative, and covers a draft list of products that could be brought into the agreement (here).
The International Trade Commission is publishing notices in the March 14 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 23 on public interest factors arising from STMicroelectronics’ Section 337 patent complaint on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The March 11 complaint alleged patent infringement by imports of MEMS devices by InvenSense, Roku, and Black & Decker (see 13031226). According to STMicroelectronics, InvenSense directly imports MEMS devices that infringe its patents, while Roku imports remote controls that contain infringing MEMS devices, and Black & Decker imports power screwdrivers that contain infringing MEMS devices. STMicroelectronics is requesting limited exclusion and cease and desist orders against the proposed respondents.
Sling Media filed a Section 337 complaint at the International Trade Commission March 12, alleging patent infringement by imports of “electronic devices having placeshifting or display replication functionality” from Belkin International, Monsoon Multimedia, and C2 Microsystems. The products at issue allow users to watch their televisions remotely from a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The International Trade Administration published notices in the March 14 Federal Register on the following AD/CV 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 International Trade Administration had planned to partially revoke the antidumping duty order on diamond sawblades from China (A-570-900) for Chinese company Advanced Technology & Materials (AT&M), but the domestic Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers Coalition (DSMC) obtained a temporary restraining order March 6 from the Court of International Trade preventing revocation to the company, according to several court filings, International Trade Administration documents, and AD/CV messages to CBP.
Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the following voluntary recalls March 13 (country of manufacture in parentheses):