The International Trade Administration published notices in the May 22, 2012, Federal Register on the following AD/CV proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, the scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
The Environmental Protection Agency said it's proposing adding the category of cadmium compounds, including any chemical that contains cadmium as part of that chemical's structure, 6 non-phthalate plasticizers, 25 phosphate ester flame retardants, two other flame retardants, nine chemicals to which children living near hazardous waste sites may be exposed, and a category of 69 diisocyanates and related compounds (including 14 Action Plan chemicals and 55 related compounds) to the Toxic Substances Control Act Priority Testing List.
Reacting to the recent U.S. decision on solar cell imports, Motech Industries said it will give all customers that import its laminates, panels and/or modules into the U.S. a "Solar Cell Certificate of Origin." The certificate is intended to exclude the products from cash deposit or bond requirements for customers. On May 17, the International Trade Administration announced its affirmative preliminary determination in antidumping duty investigation of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from China (see ITT's Online Archives 12051805). Motech said its cell origin is well documented within the chain of command and Motech will continue to maintain such records together with all Certificates for Commerce's verification upon request.
Chinese exporters of solar cells received preliminary antidumping rates of 31.14% to 249.96%, the International Trade Administration announced in its fact sheet regarding its affirmative preliminary determination in its AD investigation of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules from China (A-570-979). The fact sheet says mandatory respondents Wuxi Suntech and Trina Solar received AD rates of 31.22% and 31.14%, respectively. Fifty-nine other exporters qualified for a separate AD rate of 31.18%, and all other Chinese producers/exporters received a preliminary AD rate of 249.96%.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of May 17, 2012, lists notices from the Secretary of the Economy as follows:
The International Trade Administration published notices in the May 17, 2012, Federal Register on the following AD/CV proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, the scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
Online social networks open a new frontier for breaking promises in noncompete agreements not to entice colleagues to come over to new companies, employment law experts said Wednesday. The subject is “a real hot area” in employment law, said Bernard Fuhs of the Butzel Long law firm. “The case law is still developing. There’s not much out there.” It’s the substance of a communication that determines whether there’s a breach, not the medium, he and others said on an American Bar Association webcast. An update, posting or message on a social network can qualify as a solicitation, even if takes the form of a “passive” message about job opportunities, Fuhs said.
NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling was grilled by House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., over allegations that broadband grants pay for expensive, unnecessary telecom equipment for small libraries and schools in West Virginia. Walden told a subcommittee hearing Wednesday that he has two primary concerns with the Rural Utilities Service programs: “They appear to fund the same aims as the Universal Service Fund … and I am concerned about [their] performance.” Ranking Member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and full Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry Waxman, D-Calif., hailed NTIA’s decision to partially suspend seven public safety grants following the creation of FirstNet.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices for May 16 (note that some may also be given separate headlines)
The International Trade Administration is amending its recently published final results for its antidumping duty administrative review of lightweight thermal paper from Germany (A-428-840) in order to correct an error in the AD cash deposit rate for Papierfabrik August Koehler AG. The amended rate, which is effective May 16, is expected to be implemented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection soon.