U.S. Importer CertiFit continued to accuse Evergreen Shipping Agency of violating the Shipping Act, saying in a reply brief this week to the Federal Maritime Commission that Evergreen Shipping gave unreasonable preference to other shippers, unreasonably refused to deal or negotiate and failed to establish "just and reasonable practices" with its cargo. CertiFit also said the FMC has jurisdiction over the case because Evergreen Shipping is a common carrier, one of the main arguments disputed by Evergreen Shipping.
A retail analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank that promotes using data to form policymaking, says that while bills in Congress that would exclude China and mandate more data collection for de minimis shipments could be useful, "they do not address the root problem which is that Congress did not create the de minimis exemption so that high-volume sellers could avoid import duties and customs inspections."
The U.S. says its "mini deal" approach is better than traditional free trade deals, because of their speed and focus on current problems, and while two trade experts didn't dismiss FTAs as a 20th-century tool, they acknowledged those advantages mean mini deals are here to stay.
The International Trade Commission announced the beginning of a Section 337 investigation of allegations that imports of Ericsson 5G cellular base station communication equipment infringe patents held by Motorola Mobility (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1388), the ITC said in a notice released Jan. 24. In a complaint filed Dec. 15 (see 2312270058), Motorola said Ericsson and its affiliates’ 5G NR radio units and baseband units, used by wireless carriers to build and maintain 5G cellular networks, copy Motorola’s patented technologies related to the 5G NR technology, which provides “better performance, reliability, and efficiency in 5G communication.” The ITC will consider a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against the following respondents:
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register Jan. 24 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 released the preliminary results of its antidumping duty administrative review on polyester textured yarn from India (A-533-885). The agency preliminarily set a zero percent AD rate for the one company in the review, Reliance Industries Limited and its affiliate Alok Industries Limited. Should Commerce continue to set a zero percent AD rate for Reliance/Alok in the final results of this review, the company will not be subject to an AD cash deposit requirement until further notice, and subject merchandise from Reliance/Alok entered Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, would not be assessed antidumping duties.
The Commerce Department is again amending its preliminary determination in the AD investigation on boltless steel shelving from Thailand (A-549-846), it said in a Jan. 24 notice. Commerce said the AD rate tables in both its original preliminary determination from November (see 2311280055) and in a first amended preliminary determination issued Jan. 2, listed the rates on a "chain rate" (i.e., produced and exported by) basis, rather than on a “produced and/or exported by” basis. The agency made no changes to the rates themselves. The amended table is as follows:
Seven metal bed frame models with wood panels and slats that were imported by Zinus are not subject to antidumping duties on wooden bedroom furniture from China, the Commerce Department said in a Jan. 11 scope ruling. The AD order does not cover the furniture because it is not “made substantially of wood.”
The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on glass wine bottles from Chile, China and Mexico (A-337-808, A-570-162, A-201-862), and its countervailing duty investigation on glass wine bottles from China (C-570-163). The CVD investigation covers entries for the calendar year 2022. The AD investigations on Chile and Mexico cover entries Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023, and the AD investigation on China covers entries April 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2023.
On Jan. 23, the FDA posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of: