In Aromont USA Inc., v. U.S., the Court of International Trade determined that certain food flavorings (derived from veal, chicken, duck, lamb, beef, fish, lobster, mushroom or vegetable stock), imported from France should not be classified as soups or broths, but instead as unfinished food preparations, principally used as ingredients in gravies, sauces, and salad dressings.
Research released by Dolby Labs this week indicates a shift in the way young Americans prefer to experience entertainment, the company said. According to data gathered by Penn Schoen Berland from an online survey of 300 college students and 301 general population participants in the U.S., 60 percent of college students are using their PCs as their primary source of entertainment, rather than TVs. Citing survey results, Dolby said 48 percent of college students, and 42 percent of the general population, would use their computers more for entertainment if the audio quality were better. College students in the survey said they would be willing to pay $824 for their next PC if it came with an ideal audio setup, compared to the general-population respondents, who would pay $719. Of college student respondents, nearly 60 percent would choose to have a PC-based entertainment system if cost and set up were not issues, the company said.
A $302 million cut in the NTIA’s Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program, signed into law by President Barack Obama this week (CD Aug 12 p8), raises questions for applicants -- many of which spent tens of thousands of dollars in their efforts -- and for public safety agencies across the country that hope to use grants to build out networks in 700 MHz spectrum. RUS’s broadband program was not cut. Many applicants were surprised by the cut, which came in a bill providing $26.1 billion to states for Medicaid and teachers’ jobs.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seafood Inspection Program has issued a notice announcing the requirements for the exportation of fish and fishery products to Russia, as set forth in the U.S.-Russia Memorandum of Understanding, which became effective on February 25, 2010.
The International Trade Association has issued a notice announcing the availability of grant funds in calendar year 2010 for U.S. manufacturers of certain worsted wool fabrics, pursuant to the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-429), as amended by P.L. 109-280.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to define “common cultivar” and “common food crop”, which are among the categorical exemptions1 to requirements of the Lacey Act, as amended (Act).
RadioShack said it will get $141 million by Friday from a wireless carrier to settle an upfront-commission dispute. The companies are negotiating contract changes involving upfront commissions and chargeback provisions. But the unspecified wireless provider won’t have to pay a residual for customers activated June 30 or earlier. Such payments averaged $9 million per quarter in the first half, RadioShack said. The retailer sells AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile wireless services. T-Mobile is a recent addition, but RadioShack has been selling Sprint service for 14 years. RadioShack also sells wireless services through BullsEye Mobile Solutions kiosks at Target. After completing a test at 104 Target stores, the program will add 750 outlets mid-August to October, analysts said. The kiosks will be in 1,500-1,600 Target stores by mid-2011, analysts said. The first ones opened in October 2009. RadioShack operated 533 kiosks outside Targets on June 30, down from 555 in March and 617 a year earlier, the company said. RadioShack said it took over Sprint-branded kiosks a year ago and runs 96 under its own banner in shopping malls as an extension of its stores. Most of the kiosks outside Targets are in Sam’s Club, which assumed responsibility for 22 in Q2, RadioShack said. Sam’s Club has the rights to operate an additional 23 locations, RadioShack said. RadioShack’s Q2 kiosk-related revenue declined to $55.5 million from $63.4 million. The number of company-owned RadioShack stores rose to 4,469 from 4,450 a year earlier but dropped from 4,475 in March. There were 1,267 franchised locations June 30, down from 1,301 in March and 1,372 a year earlier. RadioShack said it closed “lower volume” franchised stores in Q2. In Mexico, RadioShack had 203 locations, up from 201 a year earlier. RadioShack had a $53 million Q2 profit, up from $48 million. Sales rose to $1.01 billion from $965.7 million on a 6.7 percent gain in same-store sales. Sales at RadioShack-owned stores rose to $873.9 million from $821.4 million a year earlier. Wireless sales increased 64 percent, and sales of personal electronics and accessories decreased 19.8 percent and 25.4 percent. RadioShack services revenue, including AT&T ConnecTech’s, jumped 6.6 percent, the company said. Gross profit improved to 47.5 percent from 46.1 percent.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a notice seeking comments and information by September 27, 2010 on the technological feasibility of meeting the 100 parts per million lead content limit for children’s products required by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA)1.
The International Trade Commission has released "The Year in Trade 2009: Operation of the Trade Agreements Program," its annual overview of the previous year's trade-related activities.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is seeking comments on a petition it received1 requesting that the agency initiate a rulemaking to revise CPSC's standards regarding bunk beds.