PNCT will be open Saturday 10/30/2021 from 7 AM to 3 PM - No reefers
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New WTO Report on G20 Shows Restraint in New Pandemic Related Trade Restrictions - World Trade Organization
G20 economies have continued to roll back COVID-19-related trade-restrictive measures and demonstrated restraint in the imposition of new ones, but the value of trade covered by pandemic-related restrictions still in place now exceeds that of trade-facilitating measures, according to the latest WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures released today (28 October). Ahead of a G20 leaders’ summit in Rome this weekend, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on G20 economies to continue to unwind pandemic-related trade restrictions and to push for a strong WTO response to the pandemic at the 12th Ministerial Conference.
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Federal Register Notices:
• Rescission of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2018-2019
• Certain Activated Carbon From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Final Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review
• Freight Rail Coupler Systems and Certain Components Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation
• Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Polyester Textured Yarn From Malaysia: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less-Than Fair-Value
• Polyester Textured Yarn From Indonesia: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
• Polyester Textured Yarn From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
• Polyester Textured Yarn From Thailand: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
• Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations: Freight Rail Coupler Systems and Certain Components Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Percussive Massage Devices; Commission Determination To Review in Part an Initial Determination Granting in Part a Motion for Summary Determination and Finding a Violation of Section 337; Schedule for Filing Written Submissions
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Multilayered Wood Flooring From the People's Republic of China: Final Results and Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2018
• Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe From the United Arab Emirates: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2018-2019
• Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags From Indonesia, Malaysia, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Continuation of the Antidumping Duty Orders and Countervailing Duty Order
• Certain Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Remand Proceeding and Reopening of 2017-2018 Antidumping Duty Administrative Review Record
• Decision to Review In Part an Initial Determination: Certain Vacuum Insulated Flasks and Components Thereof; Commission Decision To Review in Part an Initial Determination Granting in Part Complainants' Motion for Summary Determination of a Violation of Section 337; Request for Submissions
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe From the Republic of Korea: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With Final Results of Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order and Notice of Amended Final Results of Review
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Tunable Lenses and Products Containing the Same; Notice of Institution of Investigation
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Louisville CBP Seizes Counterfeit Designer Watches Worth $26.86M - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
LOUISVILLE, Ky — One of the most common counterfeited items that is seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are watches. On September 10, CBP officers in Louisville seized 2,168 counterfeit designer watches with a MSRP of $57.84 million.
The enforcement efforts did not stop there, on October 21, CBP officers Louisville inspected seven parcels to determine if the goods were admissible in accordance with CBP regulations and found a total of 54 designer watches. CBP’s trade experts at the Centers of Excellence and Expertise determined that all the watches were counterfeit. The watches originated from Hong Kong and Turkey and were destined for residential addresses in Florida and Michigan.
One of the more notable seizure contained 21 counterfeit Richard Mille watches that was destined for an address in Miami. This shipment would have been worth $25.56 million if authentic. The other shipments contained 33 more counterfeit designer watches that would have been worth more than $1.3 million if they were real.
Counterfeit watches and jewelry are one of the top seized counterfeit products by CBP, with more than a quarter of the counterfeit goods coming from Hong Kong. Counterfeit watches and jewelry make up almost half of the total MSRP of seized goods (an average of $650 million over the last two years).
“This is a significant seizure for CBP, but unfortunately, CBP officers see counterfeit shipments like this every day,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations-Chicago. “Counterfeit goods like this, come in by the truck-load on a nightly basis all across the nation threatening businesses and conning the consumer.”
Sold in underground outlets and on third party e-commerce websites, counterfeit commodities fund smugglers and members of organized crime. Consumers often believe they are buying a genuine product but soon realize the item is substandard and potentially dangerous.
CBP Trade protects the intellectual property rights of American businesses through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program, safeguarding them from unfair competition and use for malicious intent while upholding American innovation and ingenuity. Suspected violations can be reported to CBP here.
Every year, CBP seizes millions of counterfeit goods from countries around the world as part of its mission to protect U.S. businesses and consumers. These goods include fake versions of popular products, such as smartphones and related accessories, electronics, apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and high-end luxury goods, as well as goods posing significant health and safety concerns, such as counterfeit pharmaceuticals, bicycle and motorcycle helmets, medical devices, supplements and other consumables. Sold online and in stores, counterfeit goods hurt the U.S. economy, cost Americans their jobs, threaten consumer health and safety, and fund criminal activity. If interested, please visit the National IPR Coordination Center for more information about IPR including counterfeiting and piracy.
Nationwide in Fiscal Year 2020, CBP seized 26,503 shipments containing goods that violated intellectual property rights. The total estimated value of the seized goods, had they been genuine, was nearly $1.3 billion. CBP has established an educational initiative to raise consumer awareness about the consequences and dangers that are often associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods. Information about the Truth Behind Counterfeits public awareness campaign can be found at
https://www.cbp.gov/FakeGoodsRealDangers.
CBP's border security mission is led at 328 ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders. Learn more about CBP at www.CBP.gov.
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Seashells - U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Background: Collecting seashells has been a hobby for thousands of years. Online purchases have made it easier to buy and swap shells. There are a few things to know about seashells before taking on this activity.
• Seashells typically originate from a foreign country, and thus are considered imports.
• All seashells are considered wildlife and must be declared to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service whether they are protected or non-protected.
• All seashells must also be declared whether they are used for noncommercial or commercial purposes. Noncommercial purposes include personal collection and use. Commercial purposes include trade or barter, or the actual or intended transfer in the pursuit of gain or profit.
• Each shipment of seashells, whether commercial or noncommercial, imported is required to enter the U.S. though a Service designated port, unless otherwise authorized by the Service.
• Undeclared seashells or seashells found in violation of U.S. or international wildlife laws and regulations may be subject to law enforcement action, including seizure and possible monetary penalties. Seized wildlife, including seashells, is subject to administrative forfeiture proceedings.
• If you have any questions, you can contact the closest Wildlife Inspection Office.
Action: Importers bringing in shipments of seashells that are not declared are subject to enforcement action by the Service, including seizure of goods and possible monetary penalties.
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USITC Makes Determination in Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Certain Tissue Paper Products from China - U,S. International Trade Commission
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on imports of certain tissue paper products from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the existing order on imports of this product from China will remain in place.
Chair Jason E. Kearns, Vice Chair Randolph J. Stayin, and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.
Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.
The Commission’s public report Certain Tissue Paper Products from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-1070B (Third Review), USITC Publication 5236, November 2021) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.
The report will be available by November 24, 2021; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.
BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. \Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) review concerning Certain Tissue Paper Products from China was instituted on June 1, 2021.
On September 7, 2021, the Commission voted to conduct an expedited review. Commissioners Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review.
A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct an expedited review is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
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FTC Staff Report Finds Many Internet Service Providers Collect Troves of Personal Data, Users Have Few Options to Restrict Use - Federal Trade Commission
Report finds many ISPs use web browsing data and group consumers using sensitive characteristics such as race and sexual orientation
Many internet service providers (ISPs) collect and share far more data about their customers than many consumers may expect—including access to all of their Internet traffic and real-time location data—while failing to offer consumers meaningful choices about how this data can be used, according to an FTC staff report on ISPs’ data collection and use practices.
The staff report, which details the expanding scope and some troubling aspects of some ISP data collection practices, stems from orders the FTC issued in 2019 using its authority under 6(b) of the FTC Act to six internet service providers, which make up about 98 percent of the mobile Internet market:
AT&T Mobility LLC;
Cellco Partnership, which does business as Verizon Wireless;
Charter Communications Operating LLC;
Comcast Cable Communications, which does business as Xfinity;
T-Mobile US Inc.; and
Google Fiber Inc.
The FTC also issued orders to three advertising entities affiliated with these ISPs: AT&T’s Appnexus Inc., rebranded as Xandr; Verizon’s Verizon Online LLC; and Oath Americas Inc., rebranded as Verizon Media. The FTC sought information on their data collection and use practices, as well as any tools provided to consumers to control these practices.
As noted in the report, these companies have evolved into technology giants who offer not just internet services but also provide a range of other services including voice, content, smart devices, advertising, and analytics—which has increased the volume of information they are capable of collecting about their customers. The report identified several troubling data collection practices among several of the ISPs, including that they combine data across product lines; combine personal, app usage, and web browsing data to target ads; place consumers into sensitive categories such as by race and sexual orientation; and share real-time location data with third-parties.
At the same time, the report found the privacy protections many of the companies offer raised several concerns. Even though several of the ISPs promise not to sell consumers personal data, they allow it to be used, transferred, and monetized by others and hide disclosures about such practices in fine print of their privacy policies. For example, several news outlets noted that subscribers’ real-time location data shared with third-party customers was being accessed by car salesmen, property managers, bail bondsmen, bounty hunters, and others without reasonable protections or consumers’ knowledge and consent, according to the report.
Many of the ISPs also claim to offer consumers choices about how their data is used and allow them to access such data. The FTC found, however, that many of these companies often make it difficult for consumers to exercise such choices and sometimes even nudge them to share even more information. In addition, while several of the ISPs promise to only keep the data for as long as needed for business purposes, the definition of what constitutes a “business purpose” varies widely among the companies.
The report concludes that many of the ISPs’ data collection and use practices mirror problems identified in other industries and underscore the importance of restricting data collection and use.
The Commission voted 4-0 to approve and issue the report. Staff presented findings from the report at today’s open virtual Commission meeting. Chair Lina M. Khan issued a separate statement on the report.