The Commerce Department is asking companies to use its Semiconductor Alert Mechanism, which collects reports on chip supply chain disruptions so the government can look to address those issues, including with trading partners. The agency said it’s “calling on companies, manufacturers, and other interested parties to submit information regarding any new, ongoing, or potential disruptions to microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing facilities and their related supply chains around the world,” adding that it “will review submissions on a rolling basis and will follow up with parties as needed.”
The Commerce Department seeks public comments on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, paid by certain countries that exported softwood lumber to the U.S. Jan. 1 through June 30, 2023, it said in a notice. The Softwood Lumber Act of 2008 requires Commerce to submit a report every 180 days on any subsidy provided by nations exporting softwood lumber or softwood products to the U.S., including subsidies for stumpage. Commerce is seeking input on subsidies paid by countries whose exports composed at least 1% of total U.S. softwood imports by quantity, as classified under tariff schedule subheadings 4407.1100, 4407.1200, 4407.1300, 4407.1400 and 4407.1900, the agency said. International Trade Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb information indicates that six countries -- Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Romania and Sweden -- exported that much softwood lumber to the U.S. during that six-month period. Comments are due by Oct. 30.
Front foot and front foot caster assemblies for exercise equipment imported by Concept2 are outside the scope of the antidumping duty order on hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from China, the Commerce Department said in a Sept. 25 scope ruling.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements set FY 2024 limits on imports of apparel articles from sub-Saharan Africa qualifying for preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, CITA said in a notice released Sept. 25. For the year running Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024, the aggregate quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under AGOA is capped at 1,830,796,723 square meters equivalent. Of that amount, 915,398,361 square meters equivalent will be available to apparel imported under AGOA’s third-country fabric provisions. Both quantities are down from FY 2023 limits (see 2209200035).
Low-carbon steel blanks imported from China are covered by the scope of an antidumping duty order on tapered roller bearings and parts thereof from China, the Commerce Department said in a Sept. 19 scope ruling.