ITC | United States International Trade Commission

July 19, 2012
News Release 12-081
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1202-1203 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC Votes to Continue Cases on Xanthan Gum from Austria and China

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of xanthan gum from Austria and China that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Daniel R. Pearson, Shara L. Aranoff, Dean A. Pinkert, and David S. Johanson voted in the affirmative. Commissioner Deanna Tanner Okun did not participate in these investigations.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations on imports of these products, with its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about November 12, 2012.

The Commission's public report Xanthan Gum from Austria and China (Investigation Nos. 731- TA-1202-1203 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4342, July 2012) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after August 17, 2012, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Xanthan Gum from Austria and China
Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1202-03 (Preliminary)

Product Description: This investigation covers xanthan gum, which is a hydrocolloid used as a thickener and stabilizer in water-based solutions. Xanthan gum has unique chemical properties, which are desirable for many end-use applications. The product is used in three major sectors: food and beverage products, consumer goods and pharmaceutical products, and oilfield and industrial uses. Xanthan gum is classified under HTS subheading 3913.90.20, which is a residual category covering products in addition to the subject product.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Types of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping.
2.  Petitioner:  CP Kelco U.S., Atlanta, GA.
3.  Petition filed with USITC:  June 5, 2012.
4.  USITC staff conference:  June 26, 2012.
5.  USITC vote:  July 19, 2012.
6.  USITC determinations due to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  July 20, 2012.   


U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of U.S. firms involved in production of CSOBAs in 2011:  Two.
2.  Location of producers' plants:  California, Oklahoma, and Illinois.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2011:   
4.  U.S. producers' shipments in 2011:  1/
5.  U.S. apparent consumption in 2011:  1/
6.  Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. production in 2011:  1/


U.S. Imports:

1.  Total imports in 2011:  1/
2.  Total subject imports from Austria and China in 2011:  1/
3.  Total non-subject imports in 2011:  1/

_______________________________

1/ Withheld to avoid disclosure of business propeirtary information.

# # #

July 18, 2012
News Release 12-080
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC Releases The Year in Trade 2011

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released The Year in Trade 2011, its annual overview of the previous year's trade-related activities.

The USITC's The Year in Trade is one of the government's most comprehensive reports of U.S. trade-related activities, covering major multilateral, regional, and bilateral developments. The publication reviews U.S. international trade laws and actions under these laws, activities of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and developments regarding U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs), FTA negotiations, and U.S. bilateral trade relations with major trading partners in 2011.

The Year in Trade 2011 includes complete listings of antidumping, countervailing duty, safeguard, intellectual property rights infringement, and section 301 cases undertaken by the U.S. government in 2011. In addition, the 2011 report covers:

the operation of U.S. trade preference programs, including the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Andean Trade Preference Act, and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, including initiatives for Haiti.
significant activities in the WTO, including dispute settlement decisions; the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum;
overviews of the U.S. free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea, and Panama;
developments regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement, other U.S. FTAs, and the negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement;
bilateral trade issues with major U.S. trading partners-the European Union, Canada, China, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Taiwan, India, and Russia.

The report also provides an overview of U.S. trade in goods and services during 2011. Statistical tables highlight U.S. bilateral trade with major trading partners and trade under U.S. trade preference programs.

The Year in Trade 2011 (USITC Publication 4336, July 2012) is available on the USITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4336.pdf. The report also is expected to be available at federal depository libraries in the United States and at offices of the U.S. Information Agency abroad.

In addition, the USITC is disseminating this report, as well as previous Year in Trade reports covering the years 2008-2010, on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM may be requested by email at pubrequest@usitc.gov or by writing the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104. A printed copy of The Year in Trade 2011 may be requested through the same channels.

# # #

July 17, 2012
News Release 12-079
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-678-679 (Third Review), 731-TA-681-682 (Third Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Stainless Steel Bar from Brazil, India, Japan, and Spain

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on stainless steel bar from Brazil, India, Japan, and Spain 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 these countries will remain in place.

Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff, Dean A. Pinkert, and David S. Johanson voted in the affirmative with respect to all four countries. Commissioners Deanna Tanner Okun and Daniel R. Pearson voted in the affirmative with respect to India and Japan and the negative with respect to Brazil and Spain.

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 these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission's public report Stainless Steel Bar from Brazil, India, Japan, and Spain (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-678-679 and 681-682 (Third Review), USITC Publication 4341, July 2012) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

Copies may be requested after August 16, 2012, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.

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) reviews concerning Stainless Steel Bar from Brazil, India, Japan, and Spain were instituted on December 1, 2011.

On March 5, 2012, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. All six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for these reviews was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.

A record of the Commission's vote to conduct expedited reviews 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.

# # #

July 13, 2012
News Release 12-078
Inv. No(s). 332-530
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC Reports on Trade Facilitation in the East African Community

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released its report on trade facilitation in the East African Community (EAC), a regional governmental organization that includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The investigation, Trade Facilitation in the East African Community: Recent Developments and Potential Benefits, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative.

As requested, the report summarizes recent trade facilitation developments in the EAC and describes the potential benefits of trade facilitation to the EAC countries, based on empirical studies and the experiences of other developing countries. Highlights of the report follow.

Trade is growing rapidly among EAC member countries, resulting in higher volumes of goods crossing their borders. In recent years, many African countries, including EAC members, have taken steps to facilitate trade. Improvements in trade facilitation, such as the simplification of customs procedures and improvements to transport infrastructure, enhance countries' ability to compete in international markets.
EAC countries vary in their level of development, degree of integration into world markets, and success at establishing effective institutions. As a result, each member country faces unique challenges in improving its trade environment. EAC members have had varying levels of success at implementing global best practices for trade facilitation with respect to both border procedures and the condition of transportation infrastructure.
Efficiency and predictability throughout the trading system reduce time delays and the risks related to uncertainty, thereby lowering costs for both importers and exporters. The benefits are greatest when improvements are made in multiple areas at the same time; for example, when customs administration reforms are undertaken at the same time that transportation infrastructure is upgraded.
Empirical studies show that trade facilitation decreases costs along the shipping chain, increasing the volume of traded goods. Lower trading costs can result in a host of positive outcomes, including increased trade flows and investment, increases in the share of production for export, more diversified exports, improved tariff collections, and overall economic growth.

Trade Facilitation in the East African Community: Recent Developments and Potential Benefits (Investigation No. 332-530, USITC publication 4335, July 2012) is available on the USITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4335.pdf.

The report may be requested by sending an email to pubrequest@usitc.gov, by calling 202-205-2000, or by writing the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade. The investigations are generally conducted at the request of USTR, the Senate Committee on Finance, or the House Committee on Ways and Means; the USITC may also self-initiate investigations. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.

# # #

July 12, 2012
News Release 12-077
Inv. No(s). 332-345
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

U.S. Service Providers Remain Competitive in Global Services Market, Reports USITC

U.S. Services Exports Grew by 9 percent from 2009-2010

The United States remained the world's largest services market and the world's leading exporter and importer of services in 2010, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in its publication Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade, 2012 Annual Report.

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, compiles the report annually. Each year's report presents an overview of U.S. trade in services and highlights some of the service sectors and geographic markets that contributed substantially to recent services trade performance.

This year's report focuses on infrastructure services, such as banking and telecommunications, which are essential to a country's overall economic growth and development and are used by every firm regardless of economic sector. The report also includes separate chapters on specific industries (banking, insurance, logistics, retail, securities, and telecommunications). These chapters analyze global competitive conditions in the industry, examine recent trade performance, discuss non-tariff measures that affect trade, and summarize the industry's outlook.

The 2012 report covers cross-border trade in services through 2010 and affiliate sales through 2009. Highlights of the report follow.

From 2009 to 2010, U.S. cross-border services exports increased by 9 percent (to $518 billion) while U.S. services imports grew by 6 percent (to $358 billion). This represented a recovery from the previous year, when exports and imports of services fell following the financial crisis. Infrastructure services accounted for 25 percent of total U.S. cross-border services exports and 37 percent of cross-border imports in 2010.
Services supplied abroad by foreign affiliates of U.S. firms continued to exceed services purchased from U.S. affiliates of foreign firms, reaching $1.1 trillion and $669 billion, respectively, in 2009. Infrastructure services accounted for 60 percent of both sales and purchases of services through affiliates.
The value added (i.e., the output minus the cost of inputs) by U.S. infrastructure services in 2010 was $3.8 trillion, equal to 43 percent of the value added by all services and 34 percent of total private sector GDP. This figure had declined in previous years as the financial crisis and ensuing recession weakened demand, but the sector's value added in 2010 represented 6 percent growth over the previous year.
Infrastructure services employed 30 million full-time-equivalent employees in 2010, equal to 30 percent of the total U.S. private sector workforce. Retail services accounted for 13 million of these employees. In 2010, labor productivity in infrastructure services grew by 7 percent while average annual wages grew by 4 percent (to $56,000), exceeding the private sector average wage but trailing wages in goods manufacturing and professional services. Both productivity and wages varied widely among infrastructure services industries.
Regulation is a recurring theme among infrastructure services industries covered in this year's report. For example, financial reforms enacted in 2010 affected the banking, insurance, and securities services industries. Such regulations aim to address the potential negative effects of providing services and to meet economic and social objectives. However, regulations can also represent non-tariff measures that impede the ability of services providers to enter and operate in markets.
The outlook for growth in each infrastructure service industry is, for the most part, dependent on the overall level of economic growth, although factors such as regulatory reform, technological innovation, and market access will also have a major impact. Joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions are likely to increase as a way for firms to reduce costs and enter foreign markets. Market access will be increasingly important to the banking, logistics, and retail industries, which anticipate faster demand growth in developing countries than in developed countries.
The USITC hosted its fifth annual services roundtable on November 3, 2011. The discussion, summarized in the report, covered multilateral and regional trade negotiations, ways to harmonize services regulations, and services industries' contributions to global economic activity.

Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade, 2012 Annual Report (Investigation No. 332-345, USITC publication 4338, July 2012) is available on the USITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4338.pdf.

# # #

July 6, 2012
News Release 12-076
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-921 (Second Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC Will Expedite Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Folding Gift Boxes from China

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC or Commission) has voted to expedite its five-year ("sunset") review concerning the antidumping duty order on folding gift boxes from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-921 (Second Review)).

As a result of this vote, the Commission will conduct an expedited review to determine whether revocation of this order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission's notice of institution in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file with the Commission responses that discuss the likely effects of revoking the order under review and provide other pertinent 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 determinations 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 reviews, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

All six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review.

A record of the Commission's vote on this matter 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.

The record of the Commission's vote is also posted on the USITC's Internet site at http://pubapps2.usitc.gov/sunset/caseProf/list?sort=caseTitle&order=asc. From this page, search on "folding gift boxes" using the search box in the upper right corner.

The Federal Register notice will indicate whether any further information or statements will be available. Only parties that filed adequate responses and filed timely notices of appearance are eligible to participate further in this review. The Commission will issue a report after it completes its review.

# # #

July 6, 2012
News Release 12-075
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-709 (Third Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC Will Expedite Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe from Germany

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC or Commission) has voted to expedite its five-year ("sunset") review concerning the antidumping duty order on certain seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe from Germany (Inv. No. 731-TA-709 (Third Review)).

All six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review.

The record of the Commission's vote is also posted on the USITC's Internet site at http://pubapps2.usitc.gov/sunset/caseProf/list?sort=caseTitle&order=asc. From this page, search on "seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe" using the search box in the upper right corner.

# # #

July 3, 2012
News Release 12-074
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC Releases New Web Tool to Help Users Learn to Read the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States

The USITC has released A Guide to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, a web- based, interactive e-learning module to help users become familiar with and learn how to read the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).

The e-learning module, originally developed as an in-house training tool for new USITC staff, will guide users through web-based lessons to help them understand the HTS and how it is structured. The USITC fields hundreds of calls a year from importers, businesses, and citizens seeking information about classifying merchandise in the HTS.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the trading community use the HTS to determine tariff classifications and duty treatment for goods imported into the United States. The USITC plays a unique role in maintaining the HTS. The USITC also advises the United States Trade Representative and the Congress about proposals that might modify any or all of the thousands of product categories and duty rates.

The USITC HTS e-learning module consists of four lessons, which provide information about:

* the purpose of the HTS and its role in U.S. trade and product classification;
* how to read the HTS;
* how to determine duty rates and access the HTS Online Reference Tool; and
* special HTS provisions, such as those resulting from trade agreements and other special programs.

Each lesson includes a review section to ensure users have accurately digested the lesson's information.

The e-learning module also includes useful resources and links to other relevant information, including a glossary of terms, a library of links to related or more advanced information on a number of the topics covered in the lessons, and the HTS itself.

The USITC's e-learning module, A Guide to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States can be accessed at http://www.usitc.gov/elearning/hts/menu/. The USITC welcomes feedback on the HTS e-learning module from users at hts_elearning.module@usitc.gov.

# # #

June 29, 2012
News Release 12-073
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-851
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigtion on Certain Integrated Circuit Packages

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain integrated circuit packages provided with multiple heat-conducting paths and products containing same. The products at issue in this investigation are IC chips incorporated into, for example, televisions.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan and ITRI International of San Jose, CA, on May 31, 2012. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain integrated circuit packages provided with multiple heat-conducting paths and products containing same that infringe a patent asserted by the complainants. The complainants request that the USITC issue an exclusion order and a cease and desist order.

The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:

LG Electronics, Inc., of the Republic of Korea; and
LG Electronics, U.S.A., Inc., of Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-851), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's six administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.

The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.

# # #

June 25, 2012
News Release 12-072
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

Williamson Named Chairman of U.S. International Trade Commission

President Barack Obama has designated Irving A. Williamson, a Democrat of New York, as Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for the term June 17, 2012, through June 16, 2014.

Chairman Williamson was nominated to the USITC by President George W. Bush on September 7, 2006; renominated on January 9, 2007; and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 1, 2007. He was sworn in as a member of the Commission on February 7, 2007, for a term expiring on June 16, 2014. President Barack Obama designated him Vice Chairman for the term ending June 16, 2012.

Chairman Williamson has more than 40 years of experience in the international and trade policy fields. Prior to his appointment, he was for seven years President of Williamson International Trade Strategies, Inc., a New York-based consulting firm that advised clients on legal, policy, and regulatory issues affecting international trade and business. As a consultant, he worked with over 20 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other donor-funded projects, advising countries on World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, compliance, and participation; he has also conducted WTO and other trade-related training programs all over the world. Much of his work focused on trade with Africa and the Middle East.

From 1993 to 1998, Chairman Williamson was Deputy General Counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he helped manage a 14-attorney office that was engaged in more than 30 dispute settlement proceedings. The office was named best government international law office in May 1997. In this position, he also served as chairman of the interagency Section 301 Committee, which investigated foreign trade barriers, and worked on implementing legislation for the WTO and the North American Free Trade Agreement. He served as acting general counsel for seven months. Chairman Williamson played a role in developing President Bill Clinton's Partnership for Economic Growth and Opportunity in Africa initiative and represented USTR in negotiations with the Congress on the African Growth and Opportunity Act legislation.

Following his USTR service, Chairman Williamson was Vice President for Trade, Investment, and Economic Development Programs at the Africa-America Institute in New York. From 1985 to 1993, he was the manager of trade policy for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Prior to that, he served for 18 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State.

Chairman Williamson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Brown University, a Master of Arts degree in international relations with an emphasis on African studies and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University Law School. He is married to Cheryl A. Parham, has two children, Patrick and Elizabeth, and resides in New York City.

The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency that provides trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches of government, determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and directs actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. Commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for nine-year terms, unless they are appointed to fill unexpired terms. The Chairman and the Vice Chairman are designated by the President for two-year terms in those positions.

# # #

Subscribe to ITC