The U.S. International Trade Commission will do a full five-year review of the antidumping duty order on silicon metal from Russia (Inv. No. 731-TA-991 (Second Review)), after a vote last week, it said. The "sunset" review is to decide whether revocation of the order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury, it said.

The U.S. International Trade Commission said it decided to review the final initial decision of the presiding administrative law judge that found no violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in Investigation No. 337-TA-800, Certain Wireless Devices with 3G Capabilities and Components Thereof, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Sept. 10.

The International Trade Commission published notices in the Sept. 6 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will appear in another ITT article):

New Hampshire-based company Optical Devices filed a request with the International Trade Commission on Sept. 3 for a Section 337 investigation into an import ban on optical disc drives that allegedly infringe its patents. Optical Devices said products like laptop computers, CD, Blu-ray and DVD players, and game consoles contain the infringing optical disc drives. They are imported and sold by Lenovo, LG, Nintendo, Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba, and MediaTek. Optical Devices is requesting limited exclusion orders and cease and desist orders banning the import and sale of infringing optical disc drives.

The International Trade Commission voted Sept. 4 to investigate whether imports of flash memory chips made by Macronix and used in several other companies’ products are violating Section 337 by infringing on Spansion’s patents. Spansion filed its complaint Aug. 1, alleging the Macronix chips infringe its patents on the structuring of memory cells on the chips so that the cells can be put closer together, reducing costs of higher memory capacities while avoiding interference between the memory cells. The chips are sold alone and also incorporated into laptops, routers, game cartridges and game consoles. Spansion is asking for a general exclusion order banning imports of Macronix chips, as well as cease and desist orders. The ITC said the following are respondents to the investigation:

The International Trade Commission voted on Sept. 4 to begin an investigation into whether imports of point-to-point communication devices are infringing patents held by Straight Path IP Group, in violation of Section 337. Straight Path on Aug. 1 requested the inquiry cover several companies’ models of smartphones, tablet computers, e-readers, smart TVs, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, and VoIP telephone systems. (see 13080222). The patented technologies are used to establish point-to-point communications across a network. Straight Path is requesting limited exclusion and cease and desist orders. The ITC said the following are respondents to the investigation:

The Commerce Department published notices in the Sept. 6 Federal Register on the following AD/CV duty proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):

The Commerce Department ruled on Sept. 4 that Welcom’s MC2 Elite Magna Cart is not subject to antidumping duties on hand trucks from China (A-570-891), because it is identical to a Welcom utility cart found to be excluded from the scope of the order pursuant to a Court of International Trade remand. The agency agreed that the “Elite” designation in the cart’s name is for marketing purposes only, and it is identical in all respects to the Welcom MC2 Magna Cart that was subject to the earlier dispute (see 12100103). As such, it meets the scope’s exclusion for small two-wheel utility carts in which the frame is made from telescoping tubular material measuring less than 5/8 inch in diameter.

Whalen Furniture’s modular room dividers are not subject to antidumping duties on wooden bedroom furniture from China (A-570-890), said the Commerce Department in a final scope ruling Aug. 29. The room dividers have open backs, can provide storage space, and so are akin to bookcases, which are excluded from the AD duty order’s scope, it said.

The Commerce Department issued the preliminary results of its antidumping duty administrative review on carbon steel flat products from Korea (A-580-816). The agency found a zero AD rate for Hyundai HYSCO. If continued in the final results, entries from Hyundai HYSCO during the period of review will be liquidated without regard to AD duties, and its merchandise will not be subject to an AD cash deposit requirement until further notice. These preliminary results are not in effect. Commerce may modify them in the final results of this review and change the estimated AD cash deposit rates for these companies.