USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 1 that Special Import Quota #16 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 8, allowing importation of 6,199,761 kilograms (28,475 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 7, 2024, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 5, 2024. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September through November 2023 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
A listing of recent Commerce Department antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted on CBP's website Feb. 1, 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 CBP's ADCVD Search page.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP ruled that the Caper Cart, a "'smart' shopping cart" imported by Instacart, is classified as a vehicle under Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 8716. The agency said in a customs ruling released Jan. 12 that the cart is "essentially" a manually propelled vehicle that transports goods and functions as a cart, regardless of whether the electronic payment features and point-of-sale system are on the cart.
Human Rights Watch says that "some car manufacturers in China have succumbed to government pressure to apply weaker human rights and responsible sourcing standards at their Chinese joint ventures than in their global operations," and argues that car companies should disengage from all suppliers that source aluminum from Xinjiang, and should map aluminum supply chains back to the bauxite mines, whether for aluminum ingots or semi-fabricated aluminum.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is increasing civil penalties for violations of the laws and regulations it administers, including the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act, it said in a final rule. The annual increase for inflation raises penalties about 3.2% over those set in 2023, the FWS said.
The FTC is amending EnergyGuide labeling requirements for televisions to update the comparability ranges listed on the labels, the agency said in a final rule released Feb. 1. The final rule takes effect May 2.
The FTC is proposing changes to its EnergyGuide labeling regulations, including new requirements for EnergyGuide labels on air cleaners, clothes dryers, “miscellaneous refrigeration products” and portable electric spas. The proposed rule, released Feb. 1, also would modify existing labels for clothes washers, televisions and “several heating products,” including instantaneous gas water heaters and pool heaters. Under the proposal, manufacturers of some products -- including refrigerator/freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, and air conditioners -- no longer would be required to affix an EnergyGuide label to the product itself but could instead ship the label along with the product. The retailer would be responsible for attaching the label. Manufacturers still would have to affix the label for showroom models. Comments are due April 2.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Feb. 1 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. 1 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):