Three U.S. companies filed petitions with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission May 16, requesting antidumping duties be imposed on welded stainless pressure pipe from Malaysia (A-557-815), Thailand (A-549-830), and Vietnam (A-552-816). Bristol Metals, Felker Brothers, and Outokumpu Stainless Pipe allege that imports of the pipe, which is a commodity product used as a conduit for liquids or gases, are being sold at less than fair value in the U.S. According to the companies, the underselling is causing U.S. companies to lose market share, and is causing losses by U.S. companies that are trying to compete.

The International Trade Commission issued a final rule to amend the discovery provisions of its Rules of Practice and Procedure for Section 337 patent investigations. The rule adopts an October 2012 proposed rule with minor changes (see 12100423). Under the new procedures, discovery of electronically stored information will be limited, administrative law judges will be allowed to limit discovery in certain cases, and new provisions are added on privileged information and attorney work product. The final rule is effective June 20.

The International Trade Commission is publishing notices in the May 17 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):

The Commerce Department published notices in the May 17 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 issued the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review on silicon metal from China (A-570-806). The agency made no changes from its preliminary results, continuing to find sole respondent Shanghai Jinneng International Trade Co., Ltd., had no reviewable shipments during the period of review. Shanghai Jinneng will continue to receive the AD rate last assigned to it, Commerce said.

Antidumping duty rates for many companies rose substantially, as the Commerce Department amended the final results from its review of frozen fish fillets from Vietnam (A-552-) to correct calculation errors. The new rates, which are effective May 20, are as follows:

The Commerce Department issued a Federal Register notice on its recently initiated antidumping investigations on prestressed concrete steel rail tie wire from Mexico, China, and Thailand (A-201-843, A-570-990, A-549-829). The agency will determine whether imports of the subject merchandise are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. A Commerce Department fact sheet said domestic petitioners alleged AD rates of 67.43 percent for Chinese exporters, 159.44 percent for Mexican exporters, and 53.72 percent for Thai companies (see 13051430).

The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by about May 25 on public interest factors raised by Black Hills Media’s May 13 Section 337 patent complaint on digital media devices. The complaint alleges that imports of certain products from Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sharp infringe its patents related to sharing of media, such as songs, across electronic devices. The products at issue are consumer electronics devices, including TVs, Blu-ray players, home theater systems, tablets, and mobile telephones, the complaint said. Black Hills Media is requesting cease and desist orders and limited exclusion orders barring import and sale into the U.S. or any foreign-trade zone.

The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by June 13 on the economic and public welfare effects of issuing cease and desist orders in connection with its Section 337 patent investigation on digital models, digital data, and treatment plans for use in making incremental dental positioning adjustment appliances (337-TA-833). Align Technology requested the investigation in March 2012. Respondents to the investigation include Clearcorrect Pakistan and Clearcorrect Operating (see 12033086).

The Commerce Department published notices in the May 16 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):