Cargill confirmed its suspension of purchases of palm oil from Sime Darby Plantation following CBP's forced labor finding on Sime Darby's palm oil goods (see 2204180015). After CBP issued the finding, Cargill "urged Sime Darby Plantation Berhad to provide information on how they have addressed the CBP forced labor allegations," Cargill said in an email. "Sime Darby Plantation Berhad has not yet come forward with sufficient information that enables Cargill to assess if the actions Sime Darby Plantation Berhad is taking meet the requirements set out in Cargill’s Policy on Sustainable Palm Oil. Therefore, Cargill has decided to suspend all new sourcing of palm oil and derivative products from Sime Darby Planation Berhad." It said it will review its decision when more information becomes available.
The government should not be allowed a second extension in a classification case to respond to an expert witness report, HyAxiom said in a motion filed April 20 with the Court of International Trade. DOJ has "not yet decided whether they intend to respond to HyAxiom’s Expert Report, let alone retained a rebuttal expert," which, the motion argues, is "effectively putting on pause HyAxiom’s ability to complete its discovery" and, if granted, would prejudice HyAxiom, formerly known as Doosan Fuel Cell America, by forcing it to rearrange its litigation strategy, the importer said. The case stems from a February 2021 complaint by Doosan Fuel Cell America that challenged the reclassification of a steam methane reformer and subsequent denial of protest by CBP. CBP classified the reformer under HTS subheading 8503.00.9550 (3%). Doosan claims the proper subheading is 8405.10.0000 (free).
The Senate Judiciary Committee is eyeing a markup for the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (S-673) during the upcoming work period, industry officials told us Wednesday (see 2202280066). New bipartisan language under consideration for S-673 would ensure print and broadcast journalism outlets aren’t discriminated against based on viewpoints expressed in content.
Vermont net neutrality litigation will be further stayed until the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals resolves a New York appeal of the state’s broadband affordability law, the U.S. District Court in Burlington ruled Tuesday. Judge Christina Reiss said the court’s Dec. 17 injunction on enforcing Vermont’s net neutrality law and executive order expired April 15. Defendant Vermont and plaintiffs ACA Connects, CTIA, USTelecom and the New England Cable and Telecommunications Association sought the order in a Friday stipulation. The district court in December paused the until April 15 or when the 9th Court resolved suits on California’s net neutrality law (see 2112170032). The 9th Circuit upheld California’s law, but industry in February filed a petition for rehearing en banc that's pending (see 2202100072). “The scope and conduct of this action could be significantly shaped by” 2nd Circuit resolution of the New York case, the Vermont parties said Friday.
Hasbro faces the “potential risk” of $100 million in lost sales this year to Russia, equaling about 2% of 2021 revenue, said Chief Financial Officer Deborah Thomas on a Q1 earnings call Tuesday. “We have paused shipments into Russia” in the aftermath of its Feb. 24 Ukraine invasion, she said.
California legislators urged the Public Utilities Commission to pause before approving rules for a $2 billion last-mile federal funding account (FFA) required by the state’s $6 billion broadband law. At a hearing livestreamed Wednesday, Assembly Communications Committee members grilled CPUC Communications Division Director Rob Osborn on a proposed rule to prevent ISPs from increasing prices for FFA-funded plans for 10 years.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals extended until July 14 a stay on proceedings for a lawsuit by the League of California Cities challenging the FCC’s June 2020 wireless infrastructure declaratory ruling. “If no motion for further relief is filed before this date, the remaining briefing schedule will be reset in a future order,” said the court in case 20-71765. The FCC said last month the court should extend abeyance because the agency lacked a full complement of commissioners (see 2203160042).
The USDA is recruiting U.S. exporters to join the agency on a June trade mission to the U.K. The trip, one of four upcoming international trade missions hosted by the agency, could be especially beneficial for exporters of nuts, fruit, seafood, ethanol and wood pellets, USDA said, because of the U.K.’s growing demand for U.S. consumer-oriented food and beverages. The deadline to apply for the June 22-24 trip is April 8. The USDA recently resumed in-person trade missions nearly two years after they were paused at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2202180010).
T-Mobile’s pending shutdown of its 3G/CDMA network Thursday isn’t raising the same level of concerns as when AT&T shuttered its legacy network last month (see 2202240002), experts said. T-Mobile has far fewer security or other alarm systems attached to its network than AT&T. Dish Network raised concerns about 3G handsets used by Boost customers, the prepaid provider it acquired from T-Mobile, but those have been largely addressed, experts said.
T-Mobile’s pending shutdown of its 3G/CDMA network Thursday isn’t raising the same level of concerns as when AT&T shuttered its legacy network last month (see 2202240002), experts said. T-Mobile has far fewer security or other alarm systems attached to its network than AT&T. Dish Network raised concerns about 3G handsets used by Boost customers, the prepaid provider it acquired from T-Mobile, but those have been largely addressed, experts said.