Importers will no longer be able to use protests to claim duty preferences under free trade agreements and trade preference programs after liquidation, said CBP in a letter to ports dated Aug. 11. Instead, importers will only be able to claim duty preferences after importation through 1520(d) post-importation claims for some FTAs, and by filing post-summary corrections (PSCs) or post-entry amendments (PEAs) for all others, including preference programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). CBP is making the policy change to comply with recent court decisions, it said.
The Port of Pittsburgh Commission announced Stephen Martinko will be its new executive director. Martinko has been deputy staff director of the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since January 2013.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of Aug. 12 lists notices from the Secretary of Economy as follows:
Lobbyists may serve on federal advisory committees if they’re representing the interests of a nongovernmental entity like a company or industry association, said the Office of Management and Budget in an update to earlier guidance. The move marks a change from final guidance issued by OMB in 2011 that said all lobbyists required to register with the federal government cannot serve on advisory committees, commissions, boards, or similar groups organized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which include Industry Trade Advisory Committees for the U.S. Trade Representative and Commerce Department.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Aug. 12 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):
The International Trade Commission on Aug. 7 voted to begin a Section 337 investigation into light reflectors for indoor gardening applications that allegedly infringe patents held by a subsidiary of Sunlight Supply. In its June 20 complaint, Sunlight and IP Holdings said Sinowell is manufacturing in China two types of lighting that infringe its patents and trademarks: an open-air, wing style exemplified by Sinowell’s Econo-Wing Reflector, and enclosed, air-cooled light reflectors, exemplified by Sinowell’s XXXL and Extreme Reflectors (see 14062523). Sunlight is requesting a cease and desist order, as well as a general exclusion order or a limited exclusion order, banning importation and sale of infringing light reflectors by Sinowell and several U.S. retailers, as follows:
The Commerce Department published notices in the Aug. 12 Federal Register on the following AD/CV duty 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 Commerce Department issued the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review on stainless steel bar from Brazil (A-351-825). These final results will be used to set final assessments of AD duties on importers for entries between February 2012 and January 2013. New AD duty cash deposit rates set in this review will take effect Aug. 13.
On Aug. 11 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
During the week of Aug. 4-10, the Food and Drug Administration modified the following existing Import Alerts (not otherwise listed on the FDA's new and revised import alerts page) on the detention without physical examination and/or surveillance of: