The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative proposed tariffs on some $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, with an accompanying list including some tech and telecom-related products. "Sectors subject to the proposed tariffs include industries such as aerospace, information and communication technology, robotics, and machinery," the USTR announced. The tariffs likely wouldn't take effect before June as a result of the administrative process. A result of a Trade Act Section 301 investigation, the levies are meant as a response to a pattern of forced technology transfers, intellectual property theft and cyber business espionage. The Chinese ambassador to the U.S. warned Monday that China would likely retaliate with tariffs of similar scope in response to Section 301 tariffs. We couldn't reach anyone right away Tuesday at that country's embassy. Tech groups have opposed the U.S. move (see 1803220043). Comments are due May 11, and there is a May 15 USTR hearing, at 10 a.m. in the main hearing room of the International Trade Commission, 500 E St. SW.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer filed a “request for consultations” at the World Trade Organization to “address China’s discriminatory technology licensing requirements,” said his office Friday. President Donald Trump’s memorandum proposing 25 percent tariffs on about $60 billion worth of Chinese goods imported to the U.S. directed Lighthizer to address “China’s discriminatory technology licensing practices” through a WTO “dispute proceeding” (see 1803220043). The consultations request was the first step in that process, Lighthizer's office said.
President Donald Trump’s signing of a memorandum Thursday proposing tariffs on about $60 billion worth of Chinese goods imported to the U.S. didn’t detail for now which specific products would be targeted. But CTA President Gary Shapiro wasted little time in warning the tariffs would threaten to put “a new tax on U.S. businesses” and force consumers “to pay dramatically more to access the technology products they need.”
Cable One adds from Gas Technology Institute Peter Witty as senior vice president-general counsel-secretary, effective April 2 ... Lattice Semiconductor President-CEO Darin Billerbeck to retire and leave the board, which names Chief Operating Officer Glen Hawk interim CEO, to be effective Friday, though Billerbeck remains with the IoT chipmaker until May 31 ... Harris, Wiltshire hires Gena Cadieux, ex-Department of Energy, as of counsel ... Alvarez & Marsal moves telecom, technology and media expert Byron Smyl, who remains a managing director, to Corporate Transformation Services practice.
Center for Democracy & Technology hires from New America's Open Technology Institute Liz Woolery as senior policy analyst-free expression ... Society of Professional Journalists hires Alison Bethel McKenzie, ex-International Press Institute, as executive director, its first African-American head, effective March 19, succeeding Joe Skeel, previously hired by Indiana State Bar Association (see 1708100025) ... Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke retires, effective in April ... Western Digital hires Lori Sundberg, most recently at Jacobs, as chief human resources officer, succeeding Jackie DeMaria, retiring ... Mobile Labs President Dan McFall adds title of CEO.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative plans a hearing March 8 on its “Special 301” investigation of foreign countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair market access to U.S. citizens who rely on IP protection, it said in Thursday's Federal Register. The hearing had tentatively been set for Tuesday. Post-hearing briefs are now due March 14, it said. USTR’s Special 301 report is still set for publication around April 30. Friday, USTR didn't have for us more details of the hearing at 1724 F St. NW, Rooms 1 and 2.
A "new threat" to IP-intensive music and film industries is emerging in copyright trade talks, said a letter that 37 groups, including MPAA and creative groups, sent Monday to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer asking America's negotiators to ignore voices backing "vast new immunities" for online services. "If these anti-IP voices succeed, they will turn long-standing trade policy, with creativity and innovation at its core, on its head by transforming our trade agreements into blueprints for how to evade liability for IP theft," they said. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, BMI, Digital Media Licensing Association, News Media Alliance, SoundExchange and others asked the U.S. to "chart a pro-IP course." NAFTA delegates and policymakers "shouldn't be fooled by Hollywood rhetoric," responded Joshua Lamel, Re:Create Coalition executive director. "The gatekeepers of the entertainment industry claim to represent ‘creators' yet they routinely ignore the interests of millions of bloggers, podcasters, internet video stars and Etsy artisans who rely on balanced copyright provisions to utilize online platforms," he said in a statement. “Fair use and safe harbors are essential parts of the American intellectual property framework and actually make IP stronger. If NAFTA covers intellectual property, fair use and safe harbors must be explicitly included."
With streaming video piracy booming, content companies and allies are continuing a legal assault against pirate services, and some see the number of allies growing to potentially include other parts of the legitimate video streaming ecosystem. The MPAA said it's seeing some preliminary signs the content company litigation strategy is bearing fruit. However, that legal strategy also faces unique challenges compared with past video piracy fights, experts say.
Alibaba's Taobao.com mobile commerce site, the Pacific Mall in Markham, Ontario, and online sites like Convert2mp3.net and ThePirateBay.org are among prominent physical and virtual marketplaces that facilitate or ignore rampant piracy and counterfeiting, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said Friday in its annual notorious markets report. Citing growth of illicit streaming devices globally, USTR added several apps and portals that link such devices to illicit content -- TVPlus, TVBrowser and Kuaikan -- to the list. It said closer cooperation between governments and stakeholders is needed to tackle such video streaming piracy. Alibaba and mall management didn't comment.
CTA, General Electric and nearly 400 companies and trade groups signed a Thursday letter to congressional leadership asking for a quick Generalized System of Preferences program renewal. "The sooner it happens," the sooner "tariffs paid already are refunded," they said after Dec. 31 expiration of GSP, resulting in American employers now paying "over $2 million per day in new import taxes." The U.S. Trade Representative website says "GSP promotes economic development by eliminating duties on thousands of products when imported from one of 120 [of the world's poorest] designated beneficiary countries and territories."