On Nov. 2 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
International Trade Administration reauthorized and is requesting nominations for membership on the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee, it said in two separate notices set to be published in the Nov. 6 Federal Register. The committee advises the Secretary of Commerce about the development and administration of programs to expand U.S. exports of civil nuclear goods and services. Forty members will sit on the committee, with at least one member representing each of: civil nuclear manufacturing and services companies; small businesses; utilities; trade associations in the civil nuclear sector; and private sector organizations involved in strengthening the export competitiveness of U.S. civil nuclear products and services. Nominations are due by Dec. 7.
The International Trade Administration is asking for comments by Nov. 19 on a commercial dialog between the U.S. and the East African Community,1 following agreement on establishment of the dialog as part of the U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership in June. The dialog will work to strengthen the U.S.-EAC trade and investment relationship, and support the EAC’s regional integration process. Specifically, the ITA plans to propose the promotion of business opportunities in key growth sectors, such as the energy, transportation infrastructure, information and communication technology, and agribusiness sectors. The ITA will also focus on fostering an open and predictable business climate in the EAC.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements issued the interim procedures it will follow in implementing certain provisions of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, which provides for CITA consideration of requests to modify the list of fibers, yarns, or fabrics not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the U.S. A textile or apparel good imported into the U.S. containing such listed fibers, yarns, or fabrics will be treated as if it is an originating good for purposes of Colombia TPA rules of origin, regardless of the actual origin of those inputs.
The International Trade Administration is seeking comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the U.S. during the period Jan. 1 through June 30, 2012. Comments are due by Dec. 6.
The Court of International Trade is now open as of Nov. 5, but the James L. Watson Courthouse remains closed because it has no heat, CIT said in an update on its website. For the purposes of Rule 6(a)(3), the Clerk’s Office is accessible and all filing deadlines should be met unless an extension of time is granted by CIT in the particular action, it said. For those wanting to make filings in person, contact the CIT emergency hotline at (646) 938-7537.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website Nov. 2, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for 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.)
The International Trade Commission ended its Section 337 patent investigation of certain integrated circuits, chipsets, and products containing same including televisions (337-TA-822), because all parties agreed to termination. A previous ITC patent investigation of integrated circuits, chipsets, and products containing same (337-TA-786) had found a patent claim asserted by Freescale to be invalid due to obviousness. Because Freescale’s case in this investigation was also based on that patent claim, the company agreed to termination when it was requested by the respondents.
The International Trade Administration is giving advance notice that it and the International Trade Commission will consider revoking certain antidumping duty orders and suspension agreements in their automatic five-year sunset reviews, which are scheduled to begin in December. The ITA and ITC will consider revoking the following AD orders:
The International Trade Administration announced the opportunity to request administrative reviews by Nov. 30 for producers and exporters subject to 24 antidumping duty orders, and 4 countervailing duty orders, as well as one suspended antidumping duty investigation, with November anniversary dates. Affected products include lightweight thermal paper, diamond sawblades, steel flat products, etc.