The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its preliminary results of the antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review of certain softwood lumber products from Canada regarding the appropriate AD cash deposit rate for Produits Forestiers Saguenay Inc. (PFS), a previously inactive holding company which began producing softwood lumber and exporting it to the U.S. as of June 1, 2004 and is currently owned by Abitibi Consolidated Company of Canada (ACCC) (part of the Abitibi Group1).
The International Trade Administration (ITA) frequently issues notices on antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders which Broker Power considers to be "minor" in importance as they concern actions that occur after an order is issued and neither announce nor cause any changes to an order's duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective period.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued the final results of its antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review of sebacic acid from China. The ITA has determined that Tianjin resumed dumping of sebacic acid during the July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 period of review, as alleged by a domestic interested party.
Two Mich. men were arrested last week for using the Internet to commit child sexual abuse, state Atty Gen. Mike Cox (R) said Mon. Investigators arrested 28-year-old Michael Phillips and 53-year-old James Johnson. Phillips was charged with a single count of child sexually abusive activity and one count of using a computer to commit a crime, both 20-year felonies. Johnson was charged with 2 counts of child sexually abusive activity, 2 counts of using a computer to commit a crime and 5 counts of using a computer to disseminate sexually explicit material to children, which could carry a prison sentence of 4 years, officials said. Both men are scheduled for preliminary hearings on Wed. In other news, Cox warned consumers 911 service isn’t guaranteed through VoIP technology. “If the advertising, brochure, or other marketing materials are silent on this issue, it is likely that 911 is not being provided,” Cox said. He said VoIP firms that have basic 911 service might lack other features, including: (1) Automatic caller location identification. (2) Routing through emergency lines. (3) Automatic activation of 911 service, rather than manual setup. Cox encouraged VoIP users to check providers’ websites for 911 details and to buy backup power supplies to retain VoIP service in blackouts.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a press release announcing its decision to initiate safeguard proceedings to determine whether imports of certain Chinese origin textile and apparel products are contributing to the disruption of the U.S. market.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated an antidumping (AD) duty investigation of superalloy degassed chromium from Japan.
On March 18, 2005, the Court of International Trade (CIT), among other things, denied the U.S. government's request that it dismiss with respect to jurisdictional issues a complaint filed by the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) that seeks review of CITA's decision to consider "threat-based" China textile safeguard petitions. The CIT also deferred ruling on the U.S.' motion to dismiss the case because of substantive claims.
Bell Canada launched VoIP service this week for the first time, rolling out Bell Digital Voice in 3 cities in Quebec after months of trials. The U.S. Bells, still developing VoIP offerings, are watching their Canadian counterpart’s launch.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing the 2005 in-quota ("low duty") tariff-rate quota (TRQ) quantity for tuna and skipjack (tuna) in airtight containers, not in oil, weighing with their contents not over 7 kilograms (kg) each, that is not the product of any U.S. insular possession, as described in HTS 1604.14.22 (6% duty).
Unions for freelance writers settled claims for online copyright infringement with the N.Y. Times, Lexis- Nexis and other defendants for $18 million, the groups said late Tues. The American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA), Authors Guild and National Writers Union claimed articles by freelance writers for various media were added to online archives and databases without writers’ consent going back 12 years. The 2001 Supreme Court ruling in Tasini v. New York Times established the right of writers to control their work’s online distribution. The unions expect preliminary approval from the U.S. Dist. Court, N.Y.C., within a month. Under the settlement, publishers and database companies will pay writers up to $1,500 for articles they appropriately registered for copyright under federal law, and up to $60 for articles not registered for copyright. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many writers who did not register their copyrights who will earn thousands of dollars from the settlement because they have so many claims,” said ASJA Pres. Lisa Cool. Newspaper analyst John Morton, who said the settlement “wasn’t a huge amount,” predicted few freelance claims for copyrighted work: “Most writers don’t bother to copyright things… I suspect the vast majority [of affected freelancers] will be getting the $60” maximum for each uncopyrighted article. But newspapers may start rewriting freelance contracts to reserve the right to publish freelancers’ works however they want for the same payment, Morton said. He said he doesn’t expect newspapers to cut back on posting material online, especially since print and online operations are more integrated than ever and extra costs are marginal, he said: “I don’t think we're talking about big bucks here.”