On August 30, 2011, the International Trade Administration issued a Fact Sheet announcing its preliminary affirmative countervailing duty determination for certain steel wheels from China (C-570-974). The preliminary determination found countervailable subsidies ranging from 26.24% to 46.59%. ITA will be instructing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to require CV cash deposits or bonds, at the listed rates, effective on the date this preliminary determination is published in the Federal Register, which is expected soon.
On August 30, 2011, the International Trade Administration issued a Fact Sheet announcing its preliminary affirmative countervailing duty determination for galvanized steel wire from China (C-570-976). The preliminary determination found countervailable subsidies ranging from 21.59% to less than 50%, with one mandatory respondent receiving an adverse rate of 253.07% for failing to cooperate. ITA will be instructing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to require CV cash deposits or bonds, at the listed rates, effective on the date this preliminary determination is published in the Federal Register, which is expected soon.
A Missouri circuit judge issued a preliminary injunction in favor of a teachers group against a new state law prohibiting teachers from communicating with students on social networking sites. Senate Bill 54 states that “no teacher shall establish, maintain or use a non-work-related Internet site which allows exclusive access with a current or former student.” The provision “implicates the rights of plaintiffs protected by the First Amendment” and the Missouri Constitution, Judge John Beetem wrote in an order. “Even if a complete ban on certain forms of communication between certain individuals could be construed as content neutral and only a reasonable restriction on ’time, place and manner,’ the breadth of the prohibition is staggering,” the order said. The statute “would have a chilling effect on speech.” The injunction will remain in effect until Feb. 20, the order said. The law, signed by Gov. Jay Nixon (D), was to take effect Aug. 28.
Xcel Energy pulled the plug on its Smart Grid City pilot test in Boulder, Colo., having only hooked up a handful of homes to a proposed system for monitoring and controlling home energy use, equipment vendors and installers confirmed.
Xcel Energy pulled the plug on its Smart Grid City pilot test in Boulder, Colo., having only hooked up a handful of homes to a proposed system for monitoring and controlling home energy use, equipment vendors and installers confirmed.
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of its antidumping duty administrative reviews of ball bearings and parts thereof from France, Germany, and Italy (A--427--801, A--428--801, and A--475--801), which sets the AD duty cash deposit rates for 50 separate rate respondents. These rates, which are officially effective August 24, 2011, are expected to be implemented by CBP soon.
At the August 18, 2011 COAC meeting, CBP officials and COAC members provided an update of their work on CBP’s broker revision project, which could include more robust broker vetting of importers and restricting the off-shoring of customs business.
The White House has posted all of the Final Plans for Retrospective Review submitted by federal agencies in compliance with Executive Order 135631, which is part of the President’s plan to create a “21st-century regulatory system” with improved regulation and regulatory review.
The FCC is making “great progress” complying with an executive order asking independent agencies to submit regulatory lookback plans to review old regulations, an OMB spokeswoman said Tuesday. The White House on Tuesday posted final regulatory lookback plans by 26 federal departments and agencies, and preliminary plans from four independent agencies other than the FCC. House Commerce Committee Republicans applauded the commission Tuesday for recently removing the Fairness Doctrine and 82 other rules from its books (CD Aug 23 p1) but said process reform legislation is still necessary.
The FCC is making “great progress” complying with an executive order asking independent agencies to submit regulatory lookback plans to review old regulations, an OMB spokeswoman said Tuesday. The White House on Tuesday posted final regulatory lookback plans by 26 federal departments and agencies, and preliminary plans from four independent agencies other than the FCC. House Commerce Committee Republicans applauded the commission Tuesday for recently removing the Fairness Doctrine and 82 other rules from its books but said process reform legislation is still necessary.