Initiation of AD Injury Investigation of Copper Pipe and Tube. The USITC has initiated an AD injury investigation of seamless refined copper pipe and tube classified under HTSUS 7411.10.10 and 8415.90.80 from mainland China. The schedule for the preliminary phase of this investigation is as follows: a conference will be held on 21 October, written comments may be submitted by 26 October and the USITC will issue its preliminary determination by 16 November (a vote has been scheduled for 13 November).

AD Duty Order on Steel Plate Renewed. The USITC has issued a final affirmative injury determination in its sunset review of the AD duty order on certain cut-to-length carbon steel plate classified under HTSUS subheadings 7208.40.3030, 7208.40.3060, 7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045, 7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000, 7208.53.0000, 7208.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 7210.90.9000, 7211.13.0000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0045, 7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000 and 7212.50.0000 from mainland China. As a result, this AD duty order will be extended for another five years.

Initiation of Section 337 Investigation of Certain Locks. The USITC has initiated a Section 337 investigation of certain dual access locks and products containing the same from various suppliers, including Hong Kong’s The Sun Lock Company Ltd., Alloy Metal Manufactory Ltd. and M-Power Lock Manufactory, and mainland China’s C&C Luggage Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Gema Suitcases & Bags Co. Ltd., La Pearl Luggage and Leather Goods Co. Ltd., Yi Feng Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Zhuhai SkyGood Tech. Industrial Corp. Ltd., Ningbo Xianfeng Art & Craft Co. Ltd. and Hangzhou Travelsky Co. Ltd. The products at issue in this investigation are known as “TSA locks” and are designed so that they can be opened with a master key by security personnel at an airport for further screening of locked luggage.

Section 337 allows the USITC to investigate whether there is unfair competition in the importation of products or their subsequent sale in the U.S. Such unfair competition may include infringement of patents, copyrights and registered trademarks. In this particular case, the complainants allege that imports of subject merchandise infringe certain U.S. patents and are seeking relief in the form of exclusion and cease and desist orders.

Full Sunset Reviews of AD Duty Orders on Retail Carrier Bags, Ironing Tables and Chloropicrin. The USITC has decided to conduct  full sunset reviews of the AD duty orders on mainland Chinese chloropicrin, ironing tables, barium chloride and polyethylene retail carrier bags. The reviews will seek to determine whether revocation of these orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to a domestic industry within a reasonably foreseeable time. As opposed to expedited reviews, full reviews include a public hearing and the issuance of questionnaires.

Expedited Sunset Review of AD Duty Order on Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol. The USITC has decided to conduct an expedited sunset review of the AD duty order on tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol from mainland China. The review will seek to determine whether revocation of this order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to a domestic industry within a reasonably foreseeable time. As opposed to full reviews, expedited reviews do not include a public hearing or the issuance of questionnaires.