USTR Update on Final Determination in Section 301 Investigation - U.S. Trade Representative
[August 30, 2024]
On July 30, 2024, USTR announced its intention to make public in August the final determination regarding certain proposed modifications of the actions in the Section 301 investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation. USTR continues to work to finalize the determination, and we intend to make it public in the coming days.
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Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Advance Notification of Sunset Review
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs From China and Mexico; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Uncovered Innerspring Units From China, South Africa, and Vietnam; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Certain Welded Large Diameter Line Pipe From Japan; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Line Pipe From China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber
• Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Flat-Rolled Steel Products From Japan; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Advance Notification of Sunset Review
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs From China and Mexico; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Uncovered Innerspring Units From China, South Africa, and Vietnam; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Certain Welded Large Diameter Line Pipe From Japan; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Line Pipe From China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber
• Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Flat-Rolled Steel Products From Japan; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products From Taiwan: Preliminary Results and Rescission, In Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2022
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Mattresses From India, Kosovo, Mexico, and Spain; Determinations
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Ripe Olives From Spain: Continuation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders; Correction
• Large Power Transformers From the Republic of Korea: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order
• Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Determinations, Investigations, etc.: Certain Paper Plates From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, in Part, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
• Certain Paper Plates From Thailand: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, in Part, and Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures
• Certain Paper Plates From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, in Part, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet From the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders
• Certain Brake Drums From the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Türkiye: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Countervailing Duty Investigations
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Video Processing Devices and Components Thereof; Notice of a Commission Determination To Review in Part a Final Initial Determination Finding No Violation of Section 337 and, on Review, To Affirm the Finding of No Violation; Termination of the Investigation
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OTEXA: Announcements - Office of Textile & Apparel
08/27/2024 – Determination to Approve CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability Request for Certain 100% Man-Made Fiber High Pile Fleece Fabric. File Number: CA2024003.
09/04/2024 – July 2024 Textile and Apparel Import Report
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Delaware CBP Officers Seize over $100k in Unmanifested Apple Products Destined to China - CBP
WILMINGTON, Delaware – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized over $100,000 in Apple products in New Castle, Del., on August 26 that were being shipped to China.
The shipment included 469 new Apple products, including 168 Apple iPads, 59 Apple Watch Ultras, and 242 Apple AirPods with a combined domestic value of $103.016.
CBP officers discovered the new Apple products in an export air delivery parcel being shipped from Newport, Del. The parcel was manifested as “iPhone return for repair,” with a declared value of $3,000.
The shipment of undeclared and undervalued products violated United States export laws. Exports must include a complete manifest and a truthful value declaration to ensure that all exports comply with applicable laws. CBP officers seized the Apple products.
“Mismanifesting merchandise in an export parcel raises serious concern for Customs and Border Protection officers in that the parcels may contain illicit items, such as dangerous drugs, unpermitted firearms, or criminal monetary proceeds,” said Erik Kelling, CBP’s Port Director for the Port of Wilmington, Del. “CBP’s outbound enforcement mission is vital to disrupting transnational organized crime that threatens U.S. security interests at and beyond our nation’s borders.”
CBP's border security mission is led at our nation’s Ports of Entry by CBP officers and agriculture specialists from the Office of Field Operations. CBP screens international travelers and cargo and searches for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, invasive weeds and pests, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality.
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New FTC Data Shows Massive Increase in Losses to Bitcoin ATM Scams - Federal Trade Commission
Reports from consumers show nearly tenfold increase since 2020 in amount lost to scammers using Bitcoin ATMs
New data from the Federal Trade Commission shows a massive increase in the amount of money consumers report losing to scammers involving Bitcoin ATM machines. Since 2020, the amount consumers reported losing has increased nearly tenfold to over $110 million in 2023.
Bitcoin ATMs are machines that look like a traditional ATM and are often found at convenience stores, gas stations and other high-traffic areas. Instead of distributing cash, they accept cash in exchange for cryptocurrency. Their use by scammers, who urge consumers to deposit cash into them to “protect” their savings, is on the rise.
In a newly released data spotlight, the FTC says that fraud losses to Bitcoin ATMs have topped $65 million in just the first six months of 2024. During this timeframe, consumers over the age of 60 were more than three times as likely as younger adults to report losing money to Bitcoin ATM scams. Across all ages, the median loss reported in the first half of this year was a staggering $10,000.
The majority of scam losses involving Bitcoin ATMs come as a result of government impersonation, business impersonation, and tech support scams. The lies told by scammers vary, but they all create some urgent justification for consumers to take cash out of their bank accounts and put it into a Bitcoin ATM. As soon as consumers scan a QR code provided by scammers at the machine, their cash is deposited straight into the scammers’ crypto account.
The spotlight includes tips for consumers to avoid being drawn into scams like these, including:
• Never click on links or respond directly to unexpected calls, messages, or computer pop-ups. If you think it could be legitimate, contact the company or agency, but look up their number or website yourself. Don't use the phone number the caller or message gave you.
• Slow down. Scammers want to rush you, so stop and check it out. Before you do anything else, talk with someone you trust.
• Never withdraw cash in response to an unexpected call or message. Only scammers will tell you to do that.
• Don’t believe anyone who says you need to use a Bitcoin ATM, buy gift cards, or move money to protect it or fix a problem. Real businesses and government agencies will never do that – and anyone who asks is a scammer.
The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.
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FDA Authorizes Updated Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine to Better Protect Against Currently Circulating Variants - Food & Drug Administration
Today (8/30/24), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for an updated version of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine that more closely targets currently circulating variants to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. The updated vaccine is authorized for use in individuals 12 years of age and older. It includes a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant JN.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2.
“The COVID-19 vaccines have had a tremendous positive impact on public health and vaccination continues to be the most effective method for COVID-19 prevention,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “COVID-19 continues to be a very real risk for many people, and we encourage individuals to consider getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine when eligible. Today’s authorization provides an additional COVID-19 vaccine option that meets the FDA’s standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization.”
This authorization follows the FDA’s recent approvals and authorizations of updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for 2024-2025 manufactured by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.
What You Need to Know
• Individuals 12 years of age and older who have never been vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive two doses of this updated vaccine, 3 weeks apart.
• Individuals who have been vaccinated only with one dose of any Novavax COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive one dose of the updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 weeks after the previous dose.
• Those who have been vaccinated with a prior formula of a COVID-19 vaccine from another manufacturer or with two or more doses of a prior formula of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after the last dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The FDA assessed manufacturing and nonclinical data to support the change to the 2024-2025 formula. The updated vaccine is manufactured using a similar process as previous formulas of this vaccine. Individuals who receive this vaccine may experience similar side effects as those reported by individuals who received previous formulas of this COVID-19 vaccine and as described in the fact sheets.
The FDA has determined that the updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine has met the statutory criteria for issuance of an EUA, including that the known and potential benefits of the vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 12 years of age and older.
As part of today’s action, the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula) is no longer authorized for use.
The FDA granted the emergency use authorization of the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2024-2025 Formula) to Novavax Inc. of Gaithersburg, Maryland..
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Two Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Victimizing U.S. Companies Through Business Email Compromise Scheme - Department of Justice
A Nigerian national was sentenced today in the Eastern District of Virginia to five years and three months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $5 million in restitution for participating in a computer hacking and business email compromise scheme that caused over $5 million in losses to multiple victims in the United States and elsewhere. Franklin Ifeanyichukwu Okwonna, 34, pleaded guilty on May 20 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in the scheme.
Okwonna’s co-defendant, Nigerian national Ebuka Raphael Umeti, 35, was sentenced on Aug. 27 to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $5 million in restitution. Umeti was convicted by a federal jury on June 13 of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to cause intentional damage to a protected computer, and intentional damage to a protected computer.
According to court documents and evidence presented at Umeti’s trial, between February 2016 and July 2021, Umeti, Okwonna, and their co-conspirators caused millions of dollars in unauthorized wire transfers by sending victim businesses phishing emails. These emails falsely appeared as though they originated from trusted sources, such as a bank or a vendor. After the victim opened an attachment, their computers would be infected with malicious software, or “malware,” that allowed the defendants and their co-conspirators to gain unauthorized access to the victim’s computer systems and email accounts. The defendants and their co-conspirators then exploited that access to obtain sensitive information, which they used to deceive individuals at the victim companies into executing wire transfers to accounts specified by the co-conspirators. As a result of this scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators caused or attempted to cause over $5 million in losses to the victim companies.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Senior Counsel Thomas S. Dougherty of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case. CCIPS Senior Counsel Aarash Haghighat assisted in the investigation and indictment of the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Directorate of Criminal Investigation to secure the extradition of Umeti and Okwonna.