During the May 16, 2006 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (COAC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Treasury officials discussed a variety of trade issues with COAC, highlights of which are provided below:
On May 18, 2006, the International Trade Administration (ITA) issued a notice amending its final antidumping (AD) duty determination for certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon quality steel from Japan for Nippon, as there is now a final and conclusive decision in the court proceeding.
European culture officials this week exchange preliminary views on the EC’s proposal to revamp the TV Without Frontiers (TVWF) directive. At the May 18-19 Education, Youth Affairs & Culture Council meeting, ministers were to receive a report from the Austrian Presidency summarizing delegates’ position on the main issues, the EC said. They include: (1) The overall approach and regulatory structure, including the distinction between linear (TV broadcasts) and nonlinear (on-demand) services. (2) The EC proposal to liberalize advertising restrictions. (3) The Commission’s proposal to regulate product placement at the EU level by allowing it in fiction if consumers receive prior notice -- while banning it in news, current affairs and children’s programs.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued the final results of its antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from Canada for the period of November 1, 2003 through October 31, 2004.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated and issued the preliminary results of its antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review of stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from Korea.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing that it is initiating an anticircumvention inquiry, as requested by the petitioner, to determine whether certain imports of molded or carved articles of wax (wax forms) from China are circumventing the AD duty order on petroleum wax candles from China.
In its 7th week, Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts II for PS2 was again the top-rented videogame in the U.S., according to preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended May 14. The Godfather for PS2 from Electronic Arts (EA) and EA’s Black for PS2 were again #2 and #3 in their 8th and 11th weeks available, respectively. EA had 4 other SKUs in the top 10: EA Sports Fight Night Round 3 for PS2 at #5 (up one in its 12th week), the Xbox version of The Godfather at #7 (up 2 in its 8th week), Need for Speed: Most Wanted for PS2 at #8 (down one in its 26th week) and the Xbox version of Black at #10 (up one, 11th week). Rounding out the top 10 were 3 PS2 games: Tomb Raider: Legend from Eidos at #4 (up one, 5th week), NBA Ballers: Phenom at #6 (down 2, 6th week) and Sony Computer Entertainment’s MLB ‘06: The Show at #9 (down one, 11th week).
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping (AD) duty new shipper reviews:
The Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has posted to its Web site the following five monthly reports containing official March 2006 trade data from the Department of Census for imports and exports of textiles and apparel:
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has both initiated and issued the preliminary results of its antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review of wooden bedroom furniture from China.