The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has posted to its web site updated preliminary textile and apparel import data for 2005, which now covers the 2005 period from mid-February to May 21st.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty new shipper review of certain pasta from Italy for the review period of July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the changed circumstances antidumping (AD) duty review of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, sheet, and strip from India.

In a move industry backs strongly, NTIA urged improved cooperation and coordination between govt. and industry in preparing for the World Radiocommunications Conferences (WRCs). The recommendations were submitted to Congress Mon.

ISPs operating in Canada won’t have to reveal subscribers alleged to share copyrighted music files on P2P networks, under a Canadian Federal Court of Appeal decision last week upholding a lower court ruling. BMG Canada, EMI Canada and other record labels claimed 29 anonymous individuals illegally downloaded more than 1,000 songs each. MediaSentry, an antipiracy protection provider, searched online for song titles provided by the record labels, identifying 29 IP addresses offering “large numbers” of those songs and downloaded from those addresses. The labels confirmed that downloads they received from MediaSentry matched their proprietary recordings. The appeals court agreed with the lower court that such evidence was hearsay and not admissible, and that the record labels probably could bring infringement claims under another statute. However, a “lengthy delay” between the request for alleged file-sharers’ identities and collection of that information could create “a risk that the information as to identity may be inaccurate” due to quickly changing IP addresses, the appeals court said. In deciding whether to disclose, privacy generally outweighs the public interest, the court added. But the lower court erred in deciding downloading a song for “personal use” doesn’t constitute infringement, a conclusion that “should not have been made in the very preliminary stages of this action,” the appeals court said. The Canadian Recording Industry Assn. (CRIA) “welcomed” the appeals ruling for “clarifying the steps necessary” to disclose the names of alleged file-sharers. CRIA Pres. Graham Henderson said though the labels must provide “additional evidence” for the lawsuits to proceed, “the court has clearly articulated the evidentiary standards that we need to meet and we are satisfied that we can meet those standards in future applications.” The decision “removes a legal limbo” on piracy in Canada, he added.

The Commerce Department recently issued a press release stating that the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has made affirmative decisions of "threat of" market disruption in four safeguard cases, for China categories 301, 340/640, 638/639, and 647/648.

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

Easyhome Rentals received final court approval of a $547,512 settlement of a class action lawsuit filed in Canada accusing it of selling contracts that didn’t conform with the Quebec Consumer Protection Act. After legal expenses and fees, about $298,000 will be distributed to class members, who are expected to receive cash payments by month’s end. A preliminary settlement was reached in Nov., capping a 7-year legal battle. Easyhome denied wrongdoing, but said the settlement was “desirable” in light of the time it required of senior executives. Those eligible for the settlement include Easyhome customers that renewed and paid weekly and/or monthly contracts for a minimum 4-month period between the start of the company in 1997 and May 9, 2005. Easyhome previously recorded a reserve to cover the settlement. Earlier this year, Easyhome also agreed to pay $7.38 million in coupons to settle a separate suit accusing it of violating the Canadian criminal code by charging interest on the difference between early pay-out options and the cash prices. The settlement with about 70,000 class members will consist of coupons that can be used to buy Easyhome merchandise, applied to existing agreements or used in signing a new contract, the company said.

ITA has preliminarily determined not to revoke the AD duty order for Silcotub as it did not satisfy the requirement of selling subject merchandise at not less than normal value for a period of three consecutive years.

Toys ‘R’ Us shareholders are scheduled to meet June 23 in N.Y.C. to vote on its proposed $6.6 billion sale to a private consortium. Toys R Us plans early next week to file a definitive proxy for the vote. The company said it expects no major changes from its preliminary proxy, filed May 2, that envisioned a purchase price of $26.75 a share, the same as was announced in March. In the deal, expected to be completed in July, Toys ‘R” Us will be sold to Bain Capital Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., and Vornado Realty Trust. The chain operates 1,288 Toys ‘R’ Us and 219 Babies ‘R’ Us stores.