An Internet services company that allegedly “crammed” $19 million in charges on customers’ phone bills without their authorization was hit with a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, the FTC said. The commission said Inc21 and its affiliated companies sold website design services, hosting, online directory listings, search-engine advertising and Internet-based faxing for $12.95 to $39.95 a month, using offshore telemarketers to call prospective clients. Inc21 used third-party billing aggregators to charge consumers and businesses regardless of whether they were contacted at all, told when contacted by telemarketers they were being called just to “verify business information,” they declined Inc21’s offer, or were offered a free trial but not told they would be charged if they didn’t cancel, the commission said. It also told the U.S. District Court in San Francisco that Inc21 and its agents “doctored” recordings of consumer calls to imply the recipients authorized the charges. The FTC is asking the court to enter a permanent injunction and force the defendants to hand over their proceeds from the crammed charges.
The International Trade Administration has made a preliminary affirmative determination that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of certain seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe (seamless pipe) from China.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted USTR Kirk's remarks, as prepared for delivery, for the Retail Industry Leaders Association Logistic Conference. Among other things, Kirk stated that the USTR is currently seeking to resolve outstanding issues on the Colombian, Korean, and Panamanian Free Trade Agreements in an effort to move those forward at the appropriate time. (Remarks, posted 02/24/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/speeches/transcripts/2010/february/remarks-ambassador-ron-kirk-retail-industry)
The International Trade Administration has issued the preliminary results of its antidumping duty changed circumstances review of pressure sensitive plastic tape from Italy.
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of its antidumping duty administrative review of carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from Trinidad and Tobago for the period of October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008.
The International Trade Administration has issued notices that it is postponing the preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations of seamless refined copper pipe and tube from China and Mexico.
The fiscal year 2011 budget request for the Department of Labor (DOL) includes a joint Department of Labor - Treasury $25 million initiative to "strengthen and coordinate" federal and state efforts to prevent the misclassification of employees as independent contractors.
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of its antidumping duty administrative review of certain cut-to-length carbon steel plate from China for the period of November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
Broker Power is now issuing weekly summary reports highlighting the most active textile and apparel tariff preference levels1 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection's "Quota Weekly Commodity Status Report." BP's weekly report also lists the TRQ commodities on CBP's weekly "TRQ/TPL Threshold to Fill List."
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of an antidumping duty changed circumstances review of saccharin from China, and has determined that there is insufficient evidence of changed circumstances to warrant revocation of the order.