The International Trade Administration (ITA) has made a preliminary affirmative antidumping (AD) duty determination that floor-standing, metal-top ironing tables and certain parts thereof from China are being sold, or are likely to be sold, in the U.S. at less than fair value.

(a) The ITA states that La Pointe & Roy, as both producer and exporter, has a de minimis CV rate of 0.08%. As a result, suspension of liquidation continues, but at a CV cash deposit rate of zero.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) frequently issues notices on antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders which Broker Power considers to be "minor" in importance as they concern actions that occur after an order is issued and neither announce nor cause any changes to an order's duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective period.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that it is postponing until no later than April 19, 2004 (from February 14, 2004) the preliminary countervailing (CV) duty determination on carbazole violet pigment 23.

The SEC said it had filed an emergency lawsuit against Presto Telecom and its Chmn. Alfred Vassallo to halt an alleged $11 million securities fraud in San Diego. The complaint, filed in U.S. Dist. Court, San Diego, charged that the defendants induced more than 800 people in 42 states to invest in Presto by stating falsely that: (1) The company had significant business relationships with AT&T, Sprint, MCI and Qwest, which it said had expressed interest in buying Presto or in investing in the company. (2) It was a “partner” to and had “alliances” with Cisco Systems and Unisys. (3) The Commerce Dept. was lobbying Mexican telecom regulators on Presto’s behalf, and investors’ funds would be used to build and operate a telecom network in Mexico. However, the SEC alleged, only 16% of investor and company funds were used for equipment and fiber, while Vassallo himself had misappropriated at least $1.2 million for personal expenses. It also alleged Presto had failed to disclose to prospective investors that the license its affiliated entity received from the Mexican govt. in 1998 to operate a commercial telecom network there was the subject of revocation proceedings that started in 2001. The SEC seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions and other relief, including disgorgement and civil penalties against Presto and Vassallo. Meanwhile, it said the court had ordered the freezing of Presto’s and Vassallo’s assets, the appointment of a temporary receiver over the company and other relief. A hearing on whether a preliminary injunction should be issued against the defendants and whether a permanent receiver should be appointed over the company is scheduled for Feb. 9.

An appeals court lifted a preliminary injunction against EchoStar on its carriage of DayStar and Family Net. Dominion Video Satellite had asked the U.S. Dist. Court, Denver, for the injunction pending arbitration of its contract with EchoStar. Dominion contended EchoStar couldn’t carry Christian programming besides Dominion’s. EchoStar had asked for a stay of the injunction (CD July 14 p7). The 10th U.S. Appeals Court, Denver said it had terminated the case on the merits after oral argument and had dismissed a DayStar motion to intervene. The full order was unavailable at our deadline.

An appeals court lifted a preliminary injunction against EchoStar on its carriage of DayStar and Family Net. Dominion Video Satellite had asked the U.S. Dist. Court, Denver, for the injunction pending arbitration of its contract with EchoStar. Dominion contended EchoStar couldn’t carry Christian programming besides Dominion’s. EchoStar had asked for a stay of the injunction (CD July 14 p7). The 10th U.S. Appeals Court, Denver said it had terminated the case on the merits after oral argument and had dismissed a DayStar motion to intervene. The full order was unavailable at our deadline.

The SEC said it had filed an emergency lawsuit against Presto Telecom and its Chmn. Alfred Vassallo to halt an alleged $11 million securities fraud in San Diego. The complaint, filed in U.S. Dist. Court, San Diego, charged that the defendants induced more than 800 people in 42 states to invest in Presto by stating falsely that: (1) The company had significant business relationships with AT&T, Sprint, MCI and Qwest, which it said had expressed interest in buying Presto or in investing in the company. (2) It was a “partner” to and had “alliances” with Cisco Systems and Unisys. (3) The Commerce Dept. was lobbying Mexican telecom regulators on Presto’s behalf, and investors’ funds would be used to build and operate a telecom network in Mexico. However, the SEC alleged, only 16% of investor and company funds were used for equipment and fiber, while Vassallo himself had misappropriated at least $1.2 million for personal expenses. It also alleged Presto had failed to disclose to prospective investors that the license its affiliated entity received from the Mexican govt. in 1998 to operate a commercial telecom network there was the subject of revocation proceedings that started in 2001. The SEC seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions and other relief, including disgorgement and civil penalties against Presto and Vassallo. Meanwhile, it said the court had ordered the freezing of Presto’s and Vassallo’s assets, the appointment of a temporary receiver over the company and other relief. A hearing on whether a preliminary injunction should be issued against the defendants and whether a permanent receiver should be appointed over the company is scheduled for Feb. 9.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has preliminarily determined to revoke the countervailing (CV) duty orders on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products and cut-to-length carbon steel plate products from Germany for entries of subject merchandise that have a time of entry on or after April 1, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of foundry coke from China for the review period of March 8, 2001 through August 31, 2002.