Shippers' Newswire reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) expects to complete this month a preliminary blueprint to test the feasibility of using outside auditors to help verify the C-TPAT supply chain security practices of foreign suppliers. The article adds that according to CBP Commissioner Basham, third-party validation is a tool that CBP can use for locations where the U.S. has little access, such as China. (AS, dated 10/12/06, www.americanshipper.com )

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated an antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review of the AD duty order on stainless steel bar from Japan at the request of TRW Fuji Valve, Inc. (TRW), a U.S. importer.

The Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has posted to its Web site the following five monthly reports containing official August 2006 trade data from the Department of Census for imports and exports of textiles and apparel:

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of certain polyester staple fiber from Taiwan for the period of May 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005.

The Entertainment Software Assn. claimed another victory late last week in fighting videogame laws. U.S. Dist. Court, Oklahoma City, Judge Robin Cauthron issued a preliminary injunction against enforcement of an Okla. ban on sale or rental to minors of videogames depicting “inappropriate” violence. Cauthron said the plaintiffs made a strong case that the law contained unconstitutional content-based curbs and is unconstitutionally vague, according to ESA. “This marks the 9th court decision in the past 5 years to enjoin restrictions on videogames,” said ESA Pres. Doug Lowenstein.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping (AD) duty administrative reviews:

Mediacom wants to file under seal a motion for preliminary injunction against Sinclair, it told a U.S. Dist. Court, Des Moines judge Wed. Mediacom wants a seal because its motion would include proprietary business information and material covered by the companies’ nondisclosure agreement, its attorneys said in a court filing. Mediacom sued Sinclair Oct. 6, claiming the broadcaster’s retransmission consent negotiating tactics violate the Sherman Act (CD Oct 10 p5). Sinclair has until Oct. 26 to file a response with the court.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued the preliminary results of its antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review of certain welded large diameter line pipe (LDLP) from Japan.

The PS2 Madden NFL 07 from Electronic Arts (EA) was, in its 7th week available, again the #1-rented videogame in the U.S., according to Rentrak preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended Oct. 8. But the Xbox version dropped 2 to #6 and the Xbox 360 version fell 2 to #10. In its first week available, Scarface: The World Is Yours for PS2 from Vivendi Universal Games was #5… EA’s FIFA 07 was the best- selling game in the U.K. for the 2nd week running, according to Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Assn. Chart Track data for the week ended Oct. 7. There was no new release in the top 10.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued an affirmative final determination that mixed wax candles (candles composed of petroleum wax and over fifty percent or more palm and/or other vegetable oil-based waxes) are later-developed merchandise and thus, circumvent the antidumping (AD) duty order on petroleum wax candles from China.