The International Trade Administration has made a preliminary affirmative countervailing duty determination that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of raw flexible magnets from China.
According to the House Majority Leader's office, the House is scheduled to vote on H.R. 5264, the Andean Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008, during the week of February 25, 2008. H.R. 5264 would extend the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), as amended by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), for eight months, through December 31, 2008. (The ATPA/ATPDEA is currently scheduled to expire on February 29, 2008.) (Weekly Leader, dated 02/22/08, available at http://www.majorityleader.gov/links_and_resources/whip_resources/weeklyleader.cfm?pressreleaseID=2226.)
The Alaska Regulatory Commission opened an investigation into the quality of the local exchange service provided by Alaska Communications System in the Sitka area because of complaints from customers in the towns of Klawock and Thorne Bay about unreliable fixed-wireless local service. ACS provides local dial tone through resold fixed wireless obtained from an affiliate, ACS Wireless. ACS in 2007 received $3 million in universal service subsidies for the Sitka study area, and it’s the only carrier serving the two complaining towns, the commission said. Its staff said a preliminary investigation showed significant delays in restoring outages, and customers in the area wanted landline service instead of fixed wireless (Case U-08-23). ARC said it has plans to upgrade the fixed wireless but wireline service to the towns isn’t economically feasible. It said its tariffs provide credits for outages, but only if customers request them. ACS has until March 14 to file information requested by the commission. Parties seeking to intervene formally must file by March 7.
The International Trade Administration has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping duty administrative and new shipper reviews:
Correction: A preliminary report on mobile DTV systems is expected at the end of March to the Advanced TV Systems Committee (CD Feb 22 p3).
The following Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Court of International Trade cases on international trade issues were dated/decided during February 15 - February 19, 2008:
Correction: A preliminary report on mobile DTV systems is expected at the end of March to the Advanced TV Systems Committee (CED Feb 22 p1).
A group of broadcasters began a field test of three competing mobile DTV technologies being considered for an industry standard. The Open Mobile Video Coalition is doing the test in San Francisco this week for the Advanced TV Systems Committee, which will set the standard. Another round of field and lab tests will occur soon in Las Vegas, with a preliminary report due March 15 to ATSC, ATSC President Mark Richer said during a BIA Financial webinar. The coalition is confident its participation will help yield a standard for commercial deployment soon after the February 2009 DTV switch, said Dan Hsieh, a consultant to the group.
A group of broadcasters began a field test of three competing mobile DTV technologies being considered for an industry standard. The Open Mobile Video Coalition is doing the test in San Francisco this week for the Advanced TV Systems Committee, which will set the standard.
The International Trade Administration has made a preliminary affirmative antidumping duty determination that certain new pneumatic off-the-road tires (OTR tires) from China are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.