U.S. International Trade Commission

January 27, 2021
News Release 21-013
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1243
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain active matrix OLED display devices and components thereof.  The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Solas OLED Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland, on December 28, 2020.  The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain active matrix OLED display devices and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by the complainant.  The complainant requests that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. 

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

BOE Technology Group Co. Ltd. of Beijing, China;
Beijing BOE Display Technology Co., Ltd., of Beijing, China;
BOE Technology America Inc. of Santa Clara, CA;
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea;
Samsung Electronics America, Inc., of Ridgefield Park, NJ; and
Samsung Display Co., Ltd., of Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1243), 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 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.

January 26, 2021
News Release 21-011
Inv. No(s). 332-585
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for a new general factfinding investigation on the effects of foreign censorship policies and practices on businesses in the United States.

The investigation, Foreign Censorship: Trade and Economic Effects on U.S. Businesses, was requested by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance (Committee) in a letter received on January 4, 2021.

As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will analyze the effects of censorship policies and practices in key foreign markets on businesses in the United States. The report will:

• identify foreign censorship policies and practices and provide examples that U.S. businesses believe impede trade or investment in key foreign markets;


• describe these policies, including details of how they have evolved over the past 5 years, instances of extraterritorial censorship, and the roles of governmental and non-government actors in their implementation and enforcement; and


• provide qualitative and quantitative analyses of the trade and economic effects of these policies and practices on affected U.S. businesses, with a focus on their impacts on employment, direct costs, forgone revenue and sales, and other relevant effects.

The USITC expects to transmit its report to the Committee no later than July 5, 2022.

The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigations at 9:30 a.m. on September 14, 2021. 

Information about how to participate in the hearing will be posted on the Commission’s website no later than August 3, 2021, at https://usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/what_we_are_working_on.htm.

Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on August 24, 2021, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC  20436.  See below for important information regarding filing a request to appear at a USITC hearing.

The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record.  Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission and should be submitted no later than 5:15 p.m. on October 1, 2021. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.  See below for important information regarding the filing of written submissions for USITC investigations.

IMPORTANT:  All filings to appear at the hearing and written submissions must be made through the Commission’s Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov).  No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further notice. Persons with questions regarding electronic filing should contact the Office of the Secretary, Docket Services Division (EDIS3Help@usitc.gov),  or consult the Commission’s Handbook on Filing Procedures.

Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC’s notice of investigation, dated January 26, 2021, which can be  downloaded from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary at commissionhearings@usitc.gov. 

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance.  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 reason.

January 26, 2021
News Release 21-012
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-522, 731-TA-1258
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

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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 Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from China were instituted on July 1, 2020.

On October 5, 2020, the Commission voted to conduct an expedited review. Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.  Commissioner David S. Johanson concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for full 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.

January 25, 2021
News Release 21-010
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1242
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain IP camera systems including video doorbells and components thereof.  The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by SkyBell Technologies, Inc. and SB IP Holdings, LLC, both of Irvine, CA, and Eyetalk365, LLC, of Cornelius, NC, on December 18, 2020.  The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain IP camera systems including video doorbells and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by the complainants.  The complainants request that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. 

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

Vivint Smart Home, Inc., of Provo, UT;
SimpliSafe, Inc., of Boston, MA; and
Arlo Technologies, Inc., of San Jose, CA.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1242), 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 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.

January 22, 2021
News Release 21-009
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-636 and 731-TA-1469-1470 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of wood mouldings and millwork products from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chair Jason E. Kearns and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.  Vice Chairman Randolph J. Stayin did not participate in these investigations.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of these products from China.

The Commission’s public report Wood Mouldings and Millwork Products from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-636 and 731-TA-1470 (Final), USITC Publication 5157, February 2021) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by March 1, 2021; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Wood Mouldings and Millwork Products from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-636 and 731-TA-1470 (Final)

Product Description:  The merchandise subject to these investigations consists of wood mouldings and millwork products that are made of wood (regardless of wood species), bamboo, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), or of wood and composite materials (where the composite materials make up less than 50 percent of the total merchandise), and which are continuously shaped wood or finger‐jointed or edge-glued moulding or millwork blanks (whether or not resawn).

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigation:  Final countervailing duty and antidumping duty investigations.
2. Petitioners:  The Coalition of American Millwork Producers is comprised of Best Moulding Corporation, Albuquerque, NM; Bright Wood Corporation, Madras, OR; Cascade Wood Products, Inc., White City, OR; Endura Products, Inc., Colfax, NC; Menzner Lumber and Supply Company, Marathon, WI; Pacific Wood Laminates, Brookings, OR; Sierra Pacific Industries, Red Bluff, CA; Sunset Moulding, Live Oak, CA; Woodgrain Millwork Inc., Fruitland, ID; and Yuba River Moulding, Yuba City, CA.
3. USITC Institution Date:  Wednesday, January 8, 2020.
4. USITC Hearing Date:  Tuesday, December 22, 2020.
5. USITC Vote Date:  Friday, January 22, 2021.
6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Monday, February 8, 2021.

U.S. Industry in 2019:

1.  Number of U.S. producers:  15.
2.  Location of producers’ plants:  Alabama, California, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
3.  Production and related workers:  2,452.
4.  U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  178.8 million board feet.
5.  Apparent U.S. consumption:  1.0 billion board feet.
6.  Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  24.8 percent.

U.S. Imports in 2019:

1.  Subject imports:  249.9 million board feet.
2.  Nonsubject imports:  589.5 million board feet.
3.  Leading import sources:  Brazil, China, and Chile.

January 21, 2021
News Release 21-008
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1241
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain electrical connectors and cages, components thereof, and products containing the same.  The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Amphenol Corp. of Wallingford, CT, on December 18, 2020.  The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain electrical connectors and cages, components thereof, and products containing the same that infringe patents asserted by the complainant.  The complainant requests that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. 

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

Luxshare Precision Industry Co., Ltd., of Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China;
Dongguan Luxshare Precision Industry Co. Ltd. of Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China;
Luxshare Precision Limited (HK) of Fotan, New Territories, Hong Kong; and
Luxshare-ICT Inc. of Milpitas, CA.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1241), 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 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.

January 19, 2021
News Release 21-006
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1239
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

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.

January 15, 2021
News Release 21-005
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1238
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain plant-derived recombinant human serum albumins (“rHSA”) and products containing same.  The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Ventria Bioscience Inc. of Junction City, KS, on December 16, 2020.  The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain plant-derived recombinant human serum albumins (“rHSA”) and products containing same by reason of (a) infringement of patents asserted by the complainant and (b) false designation of origin.  The complainant requests that the USITC issue a general exclusion order, or in the alternative a limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders. 

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

Wuhan Healthgen Biotechnology Corp. of Wuhan, China;
ScienCell Research Laboratories, Inc., of Carlsbad, CA;
Aspira Scientific, Inc., of Milpitas, CA; and
eEnzyme LLC of Gaithersburg, MD.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1238), 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 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.

January 8, 2021
News Release 21-004
Inv. No(s). 332-583 and 332-584
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for two new general factfinding investigations on the effects of imported cucumbers and imported squashes on the U.S. seasonal cucumber and squash markets.

The investigations, Cucumbers: Effect of Imports on U.S. Seasonal Markets, with a Focus on the U.S. Southeast, and Squash: Effect of Imports on U.S. Seasonal Markets, with a Focus on the U.S. Southeast, were requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on December 7, 2020.

As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will examine the effect of imports on the domestic seasonal markets of cucumbers and squash in separate but concurrent investigations and produce two separate reports. The reports will provide, to the extent practical:

• descriptions of the effects of imports on the domestic seasonal markets of the products in question, with particular focus on production and the competitiveness of cucumbers and squash grown in the Southeastern United States;


• information on recent trends in trade in these products between the United States and its trading partners, including information on seasonal patterns of trade; and


• descriptions of monthly price trends for these products in the United States, including an analysis and comparison of the prices of domestically produced and imported products in the U.S. market, with a focus on the 2015-2020 time period. 

The USITC expects to transmit both of its reports to the USTR no later than December 7, 2021.

The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigations at 9:30a.m. on April 8, 2021.  Because COVID-19 mitigation measures are in effect, the public hearing will be held via the WebEx videoconference platform.

Information about how to participate in the hearing will be posted on the Commission’s website no later than March 11, 2021, at https://usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/what_we_are_working_on.htm.

Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on March 25, 2021, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.  See below for important information regarding filing a request to appear at a USITC hearing.

The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record.  Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission and should be submitted no later than 5:15 p.m. on April 27, 2021. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.  See below for important information regarding the filing of written submissions for USITC investigations.

IMPORTANT:  All filings to appear at the hearing and written submissions must be made through the Commission’s Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov). No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further notice. Persons with questions regarding electronic filing should contact the Office of the Secretary, Docket Services Division (EDIS3Help@usitc.gov), or consult the Commission’s Handbook on Filing Procedures.

Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC’s notices of investigation (Cucumbers investigation; Squash investigation), dated January 8, 2021, which can be  downloaded from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary at commissionhearings@usitc.gov.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance.  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.

January 8, 2021
News Release 21-003
Inv. No(s). 1502-1504, 1508-1509, 1512, 1514, and 1516 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of prestressed concrete steel wire strand from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value and are subsidized by the government of Turkey.

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. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue a countervailing duty order on imports of this product from Turkey and antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Commission also made negative findings concerning critical circumstances with regard to imports of this product from Colombia, Egypt, Netherlands, and Turkey that are sold in the United States at less than fair value.  As a result, these imports will not be subject to retroactive antidumping duties.

The Commission’s public report Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-646 and 731-TA- 731-TA-1502-1504, 1508-1509, 1512, 1514, and 1516 (Final), USITC Publication 5153, January 2021) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by February 11, 2021; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand
from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates

Investigation Nos. 701-TA-646 and 731-TA-1502-1504, 1508-1509, 1512, 1514, and 1516 (Final)

Product Description:  The merchandise covered by these investigations is prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand), produced from wire of non-stainless, non-galvanized steel, which is suitable for use in prestressed concrete (both pre-tensioned and post-tensioned) applications. The product definition encompasses covered and uncovered strand and all types, grades, and diameters of PC strand. PC strand is normally sold in the United States in sizes ranging from 0.25 inches to 0.70 inches in diameter.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Final countervailing duty and antidumping duty investigations.
2.   Petitioners:  Insteel Wire Products Company, Mount Airy, NC; Sumiden Wire Products Corporation, Dickson, TN; and Wire Mesh Corporation, Houston, TX.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Thursday, April 16, 2020.
4.   USITC Hearing Date:  Thursday, December 10, 2020.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Friday, January 8, 2021.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Thursday, January 21, 2021.

U.S. Industry in 2019:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  5.
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  Arkansas, California, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
3.   Production and related workers:  378.
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  ^[1]
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption:  ¹
6.   Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  ¹

U.S. Imports in 2019:

1.   Subject imports:  $114 million.
2.   Nonsubject imports:  ¹
3.   Leading import sources:  Malaysia, Spain, Turkey, Italy, and Tunisia.