[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 211 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60914-60915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24038]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-266 (Rescission)]


Certain Reclosable Plastic Bags and Tubing; Notice of Commission 
Decision To Institute a Rescission Proceeding and To Rescind the 
General Exclusion Order; Termination of the Rescission Proceeding

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade 
Commission has determined to institute a rescission proceeding and to 
rescind the general exclusion order issued in the underlying 
investigation. The rescission proceeding is terminated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Houda Morad, Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 708-4716. Copies of non-
confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation may 
be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email 
[email protected]. General information concerning the Commission may 
also be obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this investigation may be viewed 
on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. 
Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter 
can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 
205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 29, 1987, the Commission instituted 
this investigation under section 337 of the Tariff Act, 19 U.S.C. 1337 
(``section 337''), based on a complaint filed by Minigrip, Inc. of 
Orangeburg, New York (``Complainant''). See 52 FR 15568-01, 1987 WL 
133865 (Apr. 29, 1987). The complaint, as supplemented, alleges unfair 
methods of competition and unfair acts in the importation into and sale 
in the United States of certain reclosable plastic bags and tubing (1) 
manufactured abroad by a process which, if practiced in the United 
States, would infringe claims 1-5 of the U.S. Patent 3,945,872 (``the 
'872 Patent''); and (2) bearing a color line mark allegedly infringing 
U.S. Trademark Registration No. 946,120 (``the '120 Trademark''). See 
id. The notice of investigation names twenty (20) respondents, 
including: C.A.G. Enterprise Pte, Ltd. of Singapore; Chang Won Chemical 
Co., Ltd. of Seoul, Republic of Korea; Chung Kong Industrial Co., Ltd. 
of Hong Kong; Euroweld Distributing of Hazlet, New Jersey; Gideons 
Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. of Tou Liu, Taiwan; Hogn Ter Product Co., 
Ltd. of Taipei, Taiwan; Ideal Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. of Taipei, 
Taiwan; Insertion Advertising Corp. of New York, New York; Ka Shing 
Corp. of Mount Vernon, New York; Kwant II of Seoul, Republic of Korea; 
Lim Tai Chin Pahathet Co. Ltd. of Bangkok, Thailand; Lein Bin Plastics 
Co., Ltd. of Taipei, Taiwan; Meditech International Co. of Denver, 
Colorado; Nina Plastic Bags, Inc. of Orlando, Florida; Polycraft 
Corporation of Pomona, California; Rol-Pak Sdn Bhd, Chin Thye Sdn Bhd 
of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Siam Import-Export Ltd. of Bangkok, 
Thailand; Ta Sen Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. of Taipei, Taiwan; Tech 
Keung Manufacturing Ltd. of Hong Kong; and Tracon Industries Corp. of 
Melville, New York. See id. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations 
is also a party to the investigation. See id.
    On October 8, 1987, the presiding administrative law judge 
(``ALJ'') issued an initial determination granting Complainant's motion 
to amend the complaint and notice of investigation to add Keron 
Industrial Co., Ltd. and Daewang International Corp. as respondents. 
See Order No. 28 (Oct. 8, 1987), unreviewed by, Comm'n Notice (Oct. 29, 
1987).
    The Commission terminated eight (8) respondents based on 
settlement, namely, Meditech, Polycraft, Chung Kong, Euroweld, Daewang, 
Keron, Gideons, and Lien Bin. See Order No. 49 (Nov. 25, 1987), 
unreviewed by, Comm'n Notice (Dec. 29, 1987). The Commission also found 
all but two (2) respondents (Chang Won and Kwang ll) in default, 
namely, Hogn Ter, Insertion, Ka Shing, Nina Plastic, Siam Import, Ta 
Sen, Teck Keung, Tracon, C.A.G., Lim Tai, Rol-Pak, and Ideal. See Order 
No. 44 (Nov. 19, 1987), unreviewed by, Comm'n Notice (Dec. 21, 1987); 
Order No. 56 (Dec. 9, 1987), unreviewed by, Comm'n Notice (Jan. 14, 
1988); Order No. 59 (Dec. 24, 1987), unreviewed by, Comm'n Notice (Jan. 
25, 1988).
    On January 29, 1988, the ALJ issued his final ID finding a 
violation of section 337. On March 16, 1988, the Commission determined 
not to review of the ID. See 53 FR 9495, 1988 WL 264423 (March 23, 
1988). On April 29, 1988, the Commission issued a general exclusion 
order prohibiting the entry into the United States, except under 
license, of (1) reclosable plastic bags and tubing manufactured 
according to a process which, if practiced in the United States, would 
infringe claims 1, 3, 4, or 5 of the `872 Patent; and (2) reclosable 
plastic bags and tubing which infringe the `120 Trademark. See Notice 
of Issuance of Exclusion Order, 0089 WL 1685278, *1 (Apr. 29, 1988). 
The Commission did not issue cease and desist orders. See id. at *4.
    The '872 Patent expired on March 23, 1993, 17 years after its 
issuance. The '120 Trademark was cancelled on March 28, 2020.
    In view of the expiration of the '872 Patent and the cancellation 
of the '120 Trademark, and pursuant to the Commission's authority under 
section 337(k)(1), 19 U.S.C. 1337(k)(1), the Commission has determined 
to institute a rescission proceeding and to rescind the general 
exclusion order issued in the underlying investigation. The rescission 
proceeding is terminated.
    The Commission's vote on this determination took place on October 
29, 2021.

[[Page 60915]]

    The authority for the Commission's determination is contained in 
section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and 
in part 210 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 
part 210).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: October 29, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-24038 Filed 11-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P