In another round of investigations designed to address the complaint that antidumping and countervailing duty cases aren't effective in the matter of imported produce that only affects one region, the International Trade Commission announced Jan. 8 that it is opening investigations of the effect on imported cucumbers and squash “with a particular focus on production and competitiveness of such products grown in the Southeastern United States.” The ITC will track trends in trade in these products, monthly price trends, and the prices of domestically grown and imported squash and cucumbers from 2015 to 2020. It will hold a public hearing on April 8 by videoconference, with information on how to participate to be posted on the ITC website later, but before March 11. Requests to appear at the hearing, which can be filed in the Electronic Document Information System, must be filed by 5:15 p.m. on March 25. The ITC report will be sent to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative by Dec. 7, 2021.

The Fish and Wildlife Service on Jan. 4 published a final rule reclassifying the June sucker (Chasmistes liorus), a freshwater fish native to Utah, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The species had been listed as endangered. Though the agency recently ended blanket import-export restrictions for threatened species, FWS is including a 4(d) rule that prohibits imports and exports without a permit. The agency's final rule takes effect Feb. 3.

A year-end presidential proclamation to amend the tariff schedule was published in the Dec. 29 Federal Register. Issued Dec. 22 (see 2012230064), Presidential Proclamation 10128 lowers duty rates on crystal glassware, cigarette lighters and lighter parts, surface preparations and propellant powders effective Aug. 1, 2020, as part of a deal with the European Union to gain market access for U.S. lobster exports (see 2008210028). The proclamation also re-adds the Democratic Republic of the Congo to African Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility, and confers on the country lesser developed beneficiary status and its attending tariff benefits for apparel. It also extends tariff benefits on agricultural goods under an agreement with Israel, and implements this year’s extension to the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (see 2010130035).

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list PMK glycidate, PMK glycidic acid, precursors used in the manufacture of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (also known as ecstasy), as well as alpha-phenylacetoacetamide (APAA), a precursor used to make amphetamine and methamphetamine, as schedule II substances under the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Dec. 18. “If finalized, this action would subject handlers (manufacturers, distributors, importers, and exporters) of PMK glycidate, PMK glycidic acid, and APAA to the chemical regulatory provisions of the CSA and its implementing regulations,” DEA said. Comments are due Feb. 19, 2021.

The Federal Trade Commission seeks comments on “the overall costs, benefits, necessity, and regulatory and economic impact” of its regulations on power output claims for amplifiers used in home entertainment products, it said in a notice released Dec. 17. Established in 1974, the rules set uniform measurements and disclosures for home entertainment amplifiers. The request for comment comes as part of “a systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides,” the FTC said. Comments are due Feb. 16, 2021.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to remove samidorphan from schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a proposed rule released Dec. 9. DEA said the drug has no abuse potential. If the removal is finalized, DEA would eliminate “regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to controlled substances, including those specific to schedule II controlled substances, on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, dispense, conduct research, import, export, or conduct chemical analysis) or propose to handle” samidorphan, it said. Comments are due Jan. 11, 2021.

The Drug Enforcement Administration plans to temporarily add the synthetic opioid brorphine to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Dec. 2. Once the temporary scheduling order is published, it will be in effect for up to three years, the DEA said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is setting 2021 quotas for the manufacture and importation of controlled substances in schedules I and II of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a Nov. 30 notice. Substances not listed in the table included in DEA's notice will have a quota of zero. DEA is also setting quotas for the Schedule I chemicals ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine and pseudoephedrine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is finalizing adjusted 2020 quotas for the manufacture and import of controlled substances in schedules I and II of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Nov. 30. Substances not listed in the table included in DEA's final rule will have a quota of zero. DEA is also setting quotas for the Schedule I chemicals ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine and pseudoephedrine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration permanently placed the synthetic opioids cyclopentyl fentanyl, isobutyryl fentanyl, para-chloroisobutyryl fentanyl, para-methoxybutyryl fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, in a final rule published Nov. 25. The substances had been temporarily listed in Schedule I since 2018. The final rule takes effect Nov. 25.