The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 8-14:
Federal Universal Service Fund
The FCC's Universal Service Fund (USF) was created by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to fund programs designed to provide universal telecommunications access to all U.S. citizens. All telecommunications providers are required to contribute a percentage of their end-user revenues to the Fund, which the FCC allocates for four core programs: 1. Connect America Fund, which subsidizes telecom providers for the increased costs of offering services to customers in rural and remote areas 2. Lifeline, which directly subsidizes low-income households to help pay for the cost of phone and internet service 3. Rural Health Care, which subsidizes health care providers to offer broadband telehealth services that can connect rural patients and providers with specialists located farther away 4. E-Rate, which subsidizes rural and low-income schools and libraries for internet and telecommunications costs The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) administers the USF on behalf of the FCC, but requires Congressional approval for its actions. Many states also operate their own universal service funds, which operate independently from the federal program.
Latest News on the Universal Service Fund
The Commerce Department is amending its final determination from the antidumping duty investigation on certain carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate (CTL plate) from Germany (A-428-844). The changes, based on the final decision in a Court of International Trade case, result in lower AD rates for Dillinger and the "all-others" companies. While Dillinger has received a more recent rate and its cash deposit rate isn't affected by the changes, the "all-others" cash deposit rate will change, effective Dec. 31, 2023. The amended rates are as follows:
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 1-7:
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Dec. 25-31:
U.S. solar cell maker Auxin Solar and solar module designer Concept Clean Energy launched a lawsuit at the Court of International Trade on Dec. 29 to contest the Commerce Department's pause of antidumping and countervailing duties on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules from Southeast Asian found to be circumventing the AD/CVD orders on these products from China (Auxin Solar v. U.S., CIT # 23-00274).
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Importers of cannabis-related goods should seek customs rulings to "interpret the laws of every State that has repealed prior prohibitions" pertaining to cannabis paraphernalia to better facilitate the importation of these goods, law firm Neville Peterson said in a blog post.
Correction: The Court of International Trade issued 191 decisions in 2006 (see 2312280038), a pace it equaled in 2023 with a decision issued Dec. 29 in Navneet Education v. U.S.
Action camera maker GoPro Inc.'s camera housings are camera parts and not cases, the Court of International Trade ruled Dec. 28, allowing them to enter the U.S. duty-free.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the weeks of Dec. 4-10, 11-17 and 18-24.