Attacks against 5G infrastructure and disinformation on health risks (see 2005150022) imperil rollout of services needed to ensure Europe's recovery from the pandemic, speakers said at a Wednesday webinar hosted by GSMA and the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association. 5G is the "missing link" between Europe's digital strategy and its environmental plans, but misinformation risks significantly delaying the deployment, said ETNO Director General Lise Fuhr. There have been about 142 site attacks in 10 EU countries and the U.K., which had the most attacks, said GSMA Head-Europe Afke Schaart. It's not just posting misinformation; it has become more mainstream, with a global 5G protest planned for Saturday, she said. The impact includes some countries postponing spectrum auctions, Schaart said. One way to fight back might be for local politicians to get involved in decisions on deploying 5G, said Member of European Parliament Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Finland. Local authorities should be given information about the technology so citizens can trust their decisions on installations. She urged governments planning 5G spectrum allocations to focus on coverage rather than revenue to allow operators to build out. Deployment has challenges, said Susana Solis Perez, of the Renew Europe Group and Spain. These include lack of demand for 5G services, environmental issues, electromagnetic frequency (EMF) considerations, network security and the risk of widening the digital divide. There's no time to waste in building infrastructure in response to COVID-19, she said. EU's e-commerce directive is "too weak" to attack disinformation, said Lisa Felton, Vodafone Group head-data, services and consumer regulation. The upcoming EC proposal for a digital services act should include legal requirements for actions online platforms must take in response to disinformation if they don't want to lose safe harbor liability protections, she said. The EC believes public health protection is paramount, and recommends maximum EMF exposure limits with wide safety margins based on scientific data, said Andreas Geiss, DG Connect head of unit-spectrum policy. The EC wants to focus debate on those facts and evidence, seeking to inform people about EMF and the benefits of 5G, he said. There's little evidence RF radiation causes cancer, affects fertility, results in changes to development, cognition or behavior, harms the immune systems or causes electrohypersensitivity, said Frank de Vocht, University of Bristol senior academic in epidemiological and public health. The idea that 5G affects the immune system is the basis for 5G/COVID-19 theories "haunting" social media, but there's no plausible theory on how millimeter waves could do that, he said.

Attacks against 5G infrastructure and disinformation on health risks (see 2005150022) imperil rollout of services needed to ensure Europe's recovery from the pandemic, speakers said at a Wednesday webinar hosted by GSMA and the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association. 5G is the "missing link" between Europe's digital strategy and its environmental plans, but misinformation risks significantly delaying the deployment, said ETNO Director General Lise Fuhr. There have been about 142 site attacks in 10 EU countries and the U.K., which had the most attacks, said GSMA Head-Europe Afke Schaart. It's not just posting misinformation; it has become more mainstream, with a global 5G protest planned for Saturday, she said. The impact includes some countries postponing spectrum auctions, Schaart said. One way to fight back might be for local politicians to get involved in decisions on deploying 5G, said Member of European Parliament Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Finland. Local authorities should be given information about the technology so citizens can trust their decisions on installations. She urged governments planning 5G spectrum allocations to focus on coverage rather than revenue to allow operators to build out. Deployment has challenges, said Susana Solis Perez, of the Renew Europe Group and Spain. These include lack of demand for 5G services, environmental issues, electromagnetic frequency (EMF) considerations, network security and the risk of widening the digital divide. There's no time to waste in building infrastructure in response to COVID-19, she said. EU's e-commerce directive is "too weak" to attack disinformation, said Lisa Felton, Vodafone Group head-data, services and consumer regulation. The upcoming EC proposal for a digital services act should include legal requirements for actions online platforms must take in response to disinformation if they don't want to lose safe harbor liability protections, she said. The EC believes public health protection is paramount, and recommends maximum EMF exposure limits with wide safety margins based on scientific data, said Andreas Geiss, DG Connect head of unit-spectrum policy. The EC wants to focus debate on those facts and evidence, seeking to inform people about EMF and the benefits of 5G, he said. There's little evidence RF radiation causes cancer, affects fertility, results in changes to development, cognition or behavior, harms the immune systems or causes electrohypersensitivity, said Frank de Vocht, University of Bristol senior academic in epidemiological and public health. The idea that 5G affects the immune system is the basis for 5G/COVID-19 theories "haunting" social media, but there's no plausible theory on how millimeter waves could do that, he said.

If countries place trade restrictions on food supplies similar to those on medical goods, the global supply chain could see significant agricultural shortages within months, trade experts said during a Washington International Trade Association webinar. But even without export controls on food, restrictions on movement and other COVID-19-related controls are already beginning to impact the flow of food goods, the experts said.

The International Trade Commission will consider a request for a Section 337 general exclusion order banning all imports of gray market in-vitro fertilization products that allegedly copy trademarks held by EMD Serono and are also purported to be falsely advertised, it said in a press release. In its March 11 complaint, EMD Serono said companies are importing IVF products intended for sale outside the U.S., including in Turkey, that feature the company’s trademarks but are materially different from its IVF products destined for sale in the U.S. EMD Serono also alleged that these companies are falsely advertising the imports as lawful equivalents of U.S. IVF products. The ITC will also consider EMD Serono's request for cease and desist orders against the following respondents to the investigation:

Myanmar extended its electronic export and import license application system to cover more items in response to social distancing requirements instituted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 20 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The system will now cover animal feed supplements, vegetable cooking oil, instant coffee, “bird’s nest,” certain pharmaceutical products, “herbal medicines,” veterinary medicines, fertilizers, certain medical devices and certain dairy products, the report said.

The International Trade Commission published notices in the March 18 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):

EMD Serono seeks a Section 337 general exclusion order banning all imports of gray market in-vitro fertilization products that allegedly copy its trademarks and are falsely advertised, it said in a complaint filed with the International Trade Commission March 11. EMD Serono says companies are importing IVF products intended for sale outside the U.S., including in Turkey, that feature the company’s trademarks but are materially different from its IVP products destined for sale in the U.S. EMD Serono also alleges that these companies are falsely advertising the imports as lawful equivalents of U.S. IVF products. EMD Serono also asked for cease and desist orders against three companies specifically identified in its complaint: FastIVF, Hermes Eczanesi and General Plastik Drug Stores. Comments are due to the ITC March 26.

India issued several changes to tax rates on the supply of goods and services, impacting cell phones, footwear, textiles, fertilizers, matches, certain services and more, India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs said March 15. The changes, made during a March 14 Goods and Services Tax Council meeting and set to take effect April 1, include raises to the GST rate on mobile phones and “specified parts” from 12% to 18%. India also increased the GST rate on matches to 12%, instead of a rate of 5% on handmade matches and 18% on other matches. The changes also include “measures for trade facilitation,” include interest on delays in payment of GST, and applications for “revocation of cancellation” of registrations.

In tapping 27-year company veteran Bob Chapek as new CEO, Disney chose a loyalist with experience in managing the company’s home entertainment, consumer products and theme parks businesses but not its media networks or direct-to-consumer operations.

In tapping 27-year company veteran Bob Chapek as new CEO, Disney chose a loyalist with experience in managing the company’s home entertainment, consumer products and theme parks businesses but not its media networks or direct-to-consumer operations.