The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated an antidumping (AD) duty investigation of superalloy degassed chromium from Japan.

On March 18, 2005, the Court of International Trade (CIT), among other things, denied the U.S. government's request that it dismiss with respect to jurisdictional issues a complaint filed by the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) that seeks review of CITA's decision to consider "threat-based" China textile safeguard petitions. The CIT also deferred ruling on the U.S.' motion to dismiss the case because of substantive claims.

Bell Canada launched VoIP service this week for the first time, rolling out Bell Digital Voice in 3 cities in Quebec after months of trials. The U.S. Bells, still developing VoIP offerings, are watching their Canadian counterpart’s launch.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing the 2005 in-quota ("low duty") tariff-rate quota (TRQ) quantity for tuna and skipjack (tuna) in airtight containers, not in oil, weighing with their contents not over 7 kilograms (kg) each, that is not the product of any U.S. insular possession, as described in HTS 1604.14.22 (6% duty).

Unions for freelance writers settled claims for online copyright infringement with the N.Y. Times, Lexis- Nexis and other defendants for $18 million, the groups said late Tues. The American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA), Authors Guild and National Writers Union claimed articles by freelance writers for various media were added to online archives and databases without writers’ consent going back 12 years. The 2001 Supreme Court ruling in Tasini v. New York Times established the right of writers to control their work’s online distribution. The unions expect preliminary approval from the U.S. Dist. Court, N.Y.C., within a month. Under the settlement, publishers and database companies will pay writers up to $1,500 for articles they appropriately registered for copyright under federal law, and up to $60 for articles not registered for copyright. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many writers who did not register their copyrights who will earn thousands of dollars from the settlement because they have so many claims,” said ASJA Pres. Lisa Cool. Newspaper analyst John Morton, who said the settlement “wasn’t a huge amount,” predicted few freelance claims for copyrighted work: “Most writers don’t bother to copyright things… I suspect the vast majority [of affected freelancers] will be getting the $60” maximum for each uncopyrighted article. But newspapers may start rewriting freelance contracts to reserve the right to publish freelancers’ works however they want for the same payment, Morton said. He said he doesn’t expect newspapers to cut back on posting material online, especially since print and online operations are more integrated than ever and extra costs are marginal, he said: “I don’t think we're talking about big bucks here.”

The ITA's notice of amended final AD duty determination also contains certain changes to the scope of the order. In addition to certain minor editorial changes, the following HTS numbers have been added (as compared to the scope of investigation published in the final AD duty determination): 4804.31.1000; 4804.31.2000; 4804.31.4020; 4804.31.4040; 4804.31.6000; 4805.91.1090; 4805.91.5000; and 4805.91.7000.

Consumer intent to buy TV sets rose slightly in March from Feb., according to preliminary data in a monthly Conference Board survey. Of 5,000 households polled, 7.3% said they planned to buy a TV set in the next 6 months, compared with 7.2% in Feb., 7.2% in Jan. and 6.7% in March 2004. The Consumer Confidence Index, which declined in Feb., lost even more ground in March, the Conference Board said. But consumers’ “overall assessment of current economic conditions remains favorable and their short-term outlook suggests little change in the months ahead.” Though expectations are lower, it said, “consumers anticipate the job market will continue to improve, and easing employment concerns should help keep spending on track.”

¹ For purposes of this review the ITA treated Dofasco Inc., Sorevco Inc. and Do Sol Galva Ltd. as a single entity.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has amended its final affirmative antidumping (AD) duty determinations for magnesium metal from China and Russia. The amendments correct ministerial errors in the final margin calculations for certain companies and for Russia's "all others" rate.

(a) preliminary de minimis AD rate (Echjay Forgings: 0.03% and Viraj Forgings: 0.01%)