International Trade Law News
December 31, 2003
OFAC Issues General License Permitting Direct Earthquake Relief Donations
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a general license permitting U.S. persons to make donations of funds to nongovernmental organizations in direct support of humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts being undertaken in Iran in response to the earthquake in Bam. The general license is valide for 90 days. Donations made under this general license may be made through a bank owned or controlled by the Government of Iran, provided that the transfer does not involve the debit or credit of an account of the Iranian bank maintained on the books of a U.S. bank.
This general license does not authorize any funds transfers to or through any blocked person, including specially-designated nationals.
American Seafood Distributors Announce Opposition to Shrimp Antidumping Case
Shortly after the filing of the antidumping petition on imported shrimp, the American Seafood Distributors Association (ASDA) stated that they will "vigorously oppose" the action. In a press release, ASDA's president said that "We look forward to the opportunity to explain to the International Trade Commission in the coming weeks why continuing access to imported shrimp is essential to the financial well-being of literally thousands of American businesses and individuals who are employed by those businesses. Moreover, the inescapable truth is that, even if successful, this case will not generate a single additional pound of domestic shrimp sales because the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic shrimp fisheries are being fished to their maximum capacity right now.
Antidumping Petition Filed on Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp
As expected, today the Ad Hoc Shrimp Trade Action Committee, filed an antidumping petition on frozen and canned warmwater shrimp. The countries named in the petition are Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand and Vietnam.
Commerce Department Initiates Antidumping Case on Ready-to-Cook Kosher Chicken From Canada
In response to the December 1, 2003 peitition filed by Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc., the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has initiated an antidumping case on imports of ready-to-cook Kosher chicken and parts thereof from Canada. The merchandise covered by this investigation is ready-to-cook chicken from Canada, whether fresh, chilled or frozen and whether whole or cut-up in pieces, that has been certified as Kosher or Glatt Kosher and is classifiable under subheadings 0207.11.00.20, 0207.11.00.40, 0207.12.00.20, 207.12.00.40, 0207.13.00.00, and 0207.14.00.40 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will render its preliminary injury determination by January 15, 2004. A negative ITC injury determination will result in the investigation being terminated.
Antidumping Case on Imported Shrimp to be Filed Today
Today the Southern Shrimp Alliance will file the long-expected antidumping case on shrimp from Thailand, China, Vietnam and other countries in Asia and Latin America.
December 30, 2003
BIS Announces Results of Export Control Investigations
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today issued the following announcements regarding investigations on export control violations:
Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) has agreed to pay a $36,000 civil penalty to settle charges that it illegally exported chemicals to Mexico. Between December 2001 and February 2002, Honeywell made 12 shipments of hydrogen fluoride to Mexico from its Geismar, Louisiana facility without the required export licenses. Hydrogen fluoride is controlled because it can assist in the development of chemical weapons. BIS stated that Honeywell voluntarily disclosed the violations and cooperated fully with the investigation.
Mahmoud Haghsheno Kashani (also known as Mike Kashani), acting as an officer of Zimex, Inc. in Ontario, Canada, has agreed to a 5-year denial of export privileges to settle charges that he attempted to export U.S.-origin parts to Iran in violation of U.S. export control laws. BIS alleged that Kashani violated the Export Administration Regulations by attempting to export replacement parts for multiple gas analyzers to Iran through Germany and Saudi Arabia.
December 29, 2003
ITC Issues Affirmative Injury Determination on Hand Trucks From China
Today the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) determined by a vote of 6-0 that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of hand trucks from China that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value. As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigation of imports of hand trucks from China, with its preliminary determination due on or about April 21, 2004.
