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The Department of Commerce has made a preliminary finding that seamless refined copper pipes and tubes imported from Vietnam are being sold in the U.S. at prices lower than their fair value. This investigation covers sales from October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020, and invites interested parties to comment on the preliminary findings. The Department also determined that there are no critical circumstances to warrant immediate action. Commerce plans to impose cash deposits for these imports and will continue investigating before making a final decision.

The Department of Commerce has issued a final rule to implement the HAVANA Act of 2021, which allows for payments to be made to current and former employees, as well as their dependents, who have suffered certain brain injuries. The rule maintains the criteria for a qualifying injury as outlined in a previous interim rule, requiring either permanent brain function changes or a medical diagnosis requiring extended treatment. The regulation includes procedures for submitting claims and emphasizes consistency with existing State Department standards. Additionally, the Department addressed public comments, clarifying that it cannot extend compensation to injuries before January 1, 2016, and explaining the reasoning behind the criteria for qualifying injuries.

The Department of Commerce has announced an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review and approve a data collection activity under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request involves the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which aids small- and medium-sized manufacturers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The request seeks public comments for 30 days, emphasizing the importance of collecting data for program accountability, stakeholder reports, and continuous improvements. Interested parties are invited to submit their feedback through the website www.reginfo.gov.

The Department of Commerce has concluded that certain producers and exporters of cast iron soil pipe fittings from China received unfair financial benefits from the government, known as “countervailable subsidies,” during a specific period from late 2017 to the end of 2018. As a result, they will impose duties to offset these subsidies on the relevant companies. These determinations were made following a detailed review of information from the involved parties, and duties will be assessed accordingly on the merchandise. The notice also explains procedures for cash deposit instructions and reminds parties of their responsibilities concerning sensitive information.

The Department of Commerce has preliminarily determined that a producer/exporter from Australia sold certain hot-rolled steel flat products in the U.S. at prices below the normal value between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. Interested parties are encouraged to comment on these findings. The review inadvertently included AJU Steel USA Inc., which should not have been part of it, and Commerce plans to rescind the review concerning AJU Steel. The results might lead to adjustments in antidumping duties and cash deposit rates for future shipments.

The Department of Commerce is requesting public comments on its information collection activities related to a Foreign National Request Form. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the department seeks feedback to help reduce the public's reporting burden and assess the impact of its information requirements. Individuals have until May 30, 2025, to submit comments. The collected information will be used to manage access by foreign nationals to Commerce facilities, with the goal of ensuring security and compliance with current guidelines.

The Department of Commerce plans to send an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, seeking feedback from the public on the process. This concerns the Seafood Inspection and Certification Requirements managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The program is a fee-based seafood inspection service, and the request includes updates for modernized processes and new forms. Public comments are invited within 30 days of the notice to ensure the initiative minimizes paperwork burdens and aligns with current industry practices.

The Department of Commerce has preliminarily determined that metal lockers from China are being sold in the United States at prices lower than fair value. This unfair pricing could harm U.S. industries. As a result, the department plans to impose extra duties on these imports, which will involve placing a hold on the involved goods and requiring cash deposits. Furthermore, interested parties are invited to provide comments on this determination before it becomes final, and the final decision may be postponed by up to six months if requested by key exporters.

The Department of Commerce has determined that certain vertical shaft engines and parts from China are being sold in the United States at less than fair value for the period from July to December 2019. They have found that critical circumstances exist for several Chinese companies and will require cash deposits for these imports. The findings involve engines primarily used in equipment like lawn mowers, and the investigation focuses on whether these engines comply with U.S. standards. The decision will be reported to the International Trade Commission to see if the U.S. industry is being harmed by these imports.

The Department of Commerce has determined that producers and exporters from China are receiving countervailable subsidies for corrosion inhibitors, meaning the subsidies unfairly aid these companies and could harm U.S. competition. This final decision is part of an investigation that goes back to January 1, 2019, and covers substances like tolyltriazole and benzotriazole. The investigation will proceed into whether these imports injure or threaten U.S. industries, with potential consequences including duties on imports. The findings are available in public documents for further review.