The Commerce Department is postponing until Oct. 27 the due date for its preliminary determinations in the countervailing duty investigations on steel nails from South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Taiwan and Vietnam (C-580-875, C-557-817, C-523-809, C-583-855, C-552-819). Mid Continent Steel & Wire, the domestic manufacturer that originally requested the investigation, asked for the extension. Once Commerce makes its preliminary determinations, it can suspend liquidation and require cash deposits of estimated CV duties. The preliminary determinations were originally due Aug. 22.
The Commerce Department is beginning an antidumping duty new shipper review on fresh garlic from China (A-570-831) at the request of Jinxiang Kaihua Imp & Exp Co., Ltd., for merchandise both produced and exported by the company. Commerce will determine if Kaihua is independent from state control, and therefore eligible for an estimated AD cash deposit rate other than the high $4.71/kg China-wide entity rate it currently receives.
Fishing boat accessories imported by TACO Metals are not subject to antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum extrusions from China, said the Commerce Department in a scope ruling issued Aug. 1. TACO’s universal backrest kits, meant to be attached to the stool-like seats on open deck fishing boats, are subassemblies, contain non-aluminum extrusion materials, and are imported in a single package with everything necessary to assemble a full backrest. Meanwhile, TACO’s T-Top kits contain non-aluminum extrusion materials, are imported in a single package, and don’t require further fabrication. Although the T-Top kits require a canvas cover, the cover is a customizable piece that can be changed by the boat’s user, and doesn’t affect the kit’s completeness, said Commerce. Both the backrest and T-Top kits are “finished goods kits” and outside the scope of the orders, it said.
Storm door accessory kits imported by Larson Manufacturing Company that consist of a door handle assembly kit and a door expander/sweeper are not subject to antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum extrusions from China (A-570-967/C-570-968), said the Commerce Department in a scope ruling issued Aug. 1. Considered separately, the door handle kits contain no aluminum extrusions, and the expander/sweepers are finished goods exempt from duties, said Commerce.
Two models of aluminum kitchen appliance door handles imported by Whirlpool Corporation are covered by antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum extrusions from China (A-570-967/C-570-968), said the Commerce Department in a scope ruling issued Aug. 4. Neither of the two models -- one of which is made fully of aluminum extrusions, and the other of which also has plastic end caps -- consists of anything other than aluminum extrusions, so they aren’t eligible for the “finished goods” exemption from duties, said Commerce. The end caps are fasteners that don’t qualify the door handles for the exemption, it said.
Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Aug. 5 the following voluntary recalls of imported products:
On Aug. 5 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
The Food and Drug Administration threatened to refuse imports from two food canneries based in Poland for violations of food safety regulations, it said in two separate warning letters sent July 17. FDA said its inspectors found violations of the low-acid canned foods, acidified foods, and emergency permit control regulations at an Agro-Serwis facility in Sucha Beskidzka (here). In another warning letter, the agency said it found violations of the low-acid canned foods and emergency permit control regulations at an Provitus Dabrowscy, Malesa S.J. facility in Zambrow (here). FDA said it may place products from the two facilities on import alert and detain without physical examination. The agency also said it would have to conduct a reinspection to verify compliance. Because the violations are related to food safety the agency will assess fees on the two companies’ U.S. agents, said FDA.
The Food and Drug Administration recently sent warning letters to seafood processors in Japan and Peru threatening detention of their fish products at the border unless violations of seafood hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) regulations are corrected. In a letter sent to Inversiones Peru Pacifico dated July 14, FDA cited problems with the company’s mahi mahi products processed at its Sullana, Peru facility (here). In another warning letter dated July 7, FDA told Marutoshi that bonita tuna flake products from its Kagoshima facility are adulterated because of HACCP violations (here). The agency threatened to place both on import alert and detain affected fish products without further examination. It also said it would collect reinspection fees from the companies’ U.S. agents for any reinspection conducted to verify compliance.
On Aug. 5 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports: