Because the FDA is not able to inspect foreign pharmaceutical factories with enough frequency -- and because the quality of those inspections is compromised by several factors -- some suggest that more imported drugs should be inspected at the border to ensure quality.

The Federal Maritime Commission's Feb. 7 informal meeting on the Red Sea shipping-related disruptions will feature opening and closing remarks by the chairman and commissioners, as well as panels featuring representatives from ports, carriers and the shipping industry, according to the schedule released Feb. 2. The hearing was announced in January in response to attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi rebels in Yemen (see 2401120057).

The Border Trade Alliance encouraged Republican governors to work with the federal government to "pursue a border that is defined by security and efficient trade." The BTA, in a letter to Republican Governors Association Chairman Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee that was also sent to 24 other Republican governors, said it is specifically worried about "a federal-state standoff that risks disruptions to legitimate cross-border trade and travel."

The International Trade Commission published notices in the Feb. 5 Federal Register on the following AD/CVD injury, Section 337 patent or other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):

The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register Feb. 5 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 has published the preliminary results of its antidumping duty administrative review on prestressed concrete steel wire strand from Thailand (A-549-820). The agency preliminarily calculated a zero percent AD rate for the only company under review, The Siam Industrial Wire Co., Ltd. If the agency's finding is continued in the final results, importers of subject merchandise from Siam entered Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, won't be assessed AD, and a zero percent AD cash deposit rate for Siam would take effect on the date of publication in the Federal Register of the final results of this review, which are due in June.

The Commerce Department has published the preliminary results of the antidumping duty administrative review on stilbenic optical brightening agents from Taiwan (A-583-848). Commerce preliminarily calculated an AD rate of 1.04% for Teh Fong Min International Co., Ltd., also known as Teh Fong Ming International Co., Ltd. (TFM). Any changes to TFM's cash deposit rate would take effect on the publication date of the final results of this review. Once Commerce issues its final results, the agency will assess AD at importer-specific rates for entries of subject merchandise from TFM entered between May 1, 2022, and Nov. 26, 2022, it said.

The Commerce Department has published the preliminary results of its countervailing duty administrative review on forged steel fluid end blocks from India (C-533-894). The agency calculated a preliminary rate of 3.76% for Bharat Forge Limited and its affiliates Bharat Forge Utilities Limited and Saarloha Advanced Materials Private Limited, the only company under review. If that rate is finalized in the final results of this review, the 3.76% CVD rate would apply for cash deposit purposes, and for the purposes of assessments for entries from Bharat Forge in calendar year 2022. Changes to Bharat Forge's cash deposit rate would take effect beginning on the date of publication of the final results in the Federal Register.

The Commerce Department on Feb. 5 released the preliminary results of its antidumping and countervailing duty administrative reviews on softwood lumber products from Canada (A-122-857/C-122-858). In the final results of this review, Commerce will set AD and CVD assessment rates for subject merchandise for the companies under review entered Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022.

The Commerce Department has published the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review on steel nails from South Korea (A-580-874). These final results will be used to set final assessments of AD on importers of subject merchandise entered July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.