The International Trade Administration joined leaders from 11 American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) in Latin America to announce new partnerships under the ITA’s Global Buyers Initiative. Formal memorandums of understanding were signed during a ceremony at the annual Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA) Conference. According to the ITA, through the Global Buyers Initiative a U.S. company identifies potential buyers of U.S. goods and services, and then refers them to the ITA's commercial posts overseas, where ITA staff works to connect the buyers with American companies who can meet their needs. The ITA said the pilot program has been a success, so it's expanding it through this agreement.
Bradford Ward has been appointed Director of the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC) by the U.S. Trade Representative. ITEC is expected to be fully operational, with 50 to 60 staff, by the end of next year, said Commerce Secretary Bryson in remarks to the Steel Manufacturers Association Conference on May 15. Additionally, Bryson appointed Constance Hadley as Deputy Director of ITEC.
The Court of International Trade denied a motion by patent-holder PPC to participate as amicus curiae in an action challenging U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s denial of plaintiff Corning Gilbert Inc.’s protests relating to CBP’s exclusion of its coaxial cable connectors pursuant to an International Trade Commission general exclusion order. CIT said participation in actions challenging the denial of protests is generally limited to the importer and the government, and the broad scope of PPC’s requested involvement would be akin to granting a motion to intervene, which is statutorily barred by 28 USC 2631(j)(1)(a).
A former manager of a Netherlands-based freight-forwarding company was sentenced to six months in prison for conspiring to defraud the U.S. by facilitating the illegal export of goods to Iran, said the Justice Department. Ulrich Davis, 50, a Dutch citizen, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. through the violation of a Bureau of Industry and Security Temporary Denial Order (TDO). According to DoJ, a co-conspirator bought U.S.-origin goods from a New Jersey company, among others, for businesses and governmental agencies of Iran, and Davis and the co-conspirator arranged for their shipment to Iran. The New Jersey company was in the business of reselling chemicals, lubricants, sealants and other products used in the aircraft industry.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site as of May 15, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)
A World Trade Organization Appellate Body found that U.S. dolphin-safe labeling provisions discriminate against Mexican tuna products, reversing portions of the panel report in U.S. - measures concerning the importation, marketing and sale of tuna and tuna products (DS381), and recommended that the WTO request that the U.S. bring the provisions into conformity with U.S. WTO obligations.
The International Trade Commission is requesting comments by July 3 on its biennial investigation and report on the economic impact of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) on U.S. industries and consumers, as well as on the effectiveness of the ATPA in promoting drug related crop eradication and crop substitution efforts by beneficiary countries (332-352). The ITC’s report is scheduled to be transmitted to be congress by September 28, 2012.
The International Trade Commission is publishing notices in the May 15, 2012, 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 considering the effect a limited exclusion order with respect to respondent Microsoft Corporation’s accused products and a cease and desist order directed against Microsoft in its Section 3371 investigation of certain gaming and entertainment consoles, related software, and components thereof (337-TA-752) would have upon the public health and welfare, competitive conditions in the U.S., and U.S. consumers, in light of a May 7, 2012 administrative law judge’s recommended determination on remedy and bonding.
The International Trade Commission is considering the effect a limited exclusion order with respect to respondent Apple Inc.’s accused products and a cease and desist order directed against Apple in its Section 3371 investigation of certain wireless communication devices, portable music and data processing devices, computers and components thereof (337-TA-745) would have upon the public health and welfare, competitive conditions in the U.S., and U.S. consumers, in light of a May 9, 2012 administrative law judge’s recommended determination on remedy and bonding.