Did you miss key news from Commerce this week? Each week, we recap the latest U.S. Department of Commerce highlights spanning a wide range of issues promoting job creation and economic growth, programs, and events in one blog post.
Here are the key moments from Commerce: This Week
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to Initiate Section 232 Investigation into Imports of Laminations and Wound Cores for Incorporation into Transformers, Electrical Transformers, and Transformer Regulators
On May 4, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced he will initiate an investigation into whether laminations for stacked cores for incorporation into transformers, stacked and wound cores for incorporation into transformers, electrical transformers, and transformer regulators are being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross Joins Board Meeting of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation
On May 6, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross joined the board meeting of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation to discuss Administration and industry responses to current challenges facing the automotive sector.
U.S. Department of Commerce to Initiate Section 232 Investigation into Mobile Crane Imports
Also on May 6, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced today that the Department will initiate an investigation into whether the quantities or circumstances of mobile crane imports into the United States threaten to impair the national security.
On May 7, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is now accepting applications from eligible grantees for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) supplemental funds (EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance) intended to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
“President Trump is working tirelessly to make sure Americans stay safe during this crisis and that our economy is loaded to spring back when this global scourge recedes,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance funds will support the long-term recovery of communities across the nation that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.”
Also on May 7, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the allocation of $300 million in economic relief to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were allocated as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27 by President Trump.
“This relief package will support America’s fishermen and our seafood sector’s recovery,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “Thank you, President Trump, Secretary Mnuchin, and our Congressional leaders of both parties for your work to pass the historic legislation that is bringing much-needed relief to America’s fishermen. This Administration stands with the men and women working to provide healthy and safe seafood during this uniquely challenging time, while our U.S. fisheries work to continue to support 1.7 million jobs and to generate $200 billion in annual sales. The Nation is grateful to our fishermen for their commitment.”
Read the May 7th statement from Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on President Donald J. Trump's signing of the Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth
Around the Bureaus
On May 4, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $6.4 million grant to the city of Yankton, South Dakota, to make necessary water and sewer infrastructure improvements to increase capacity for businesses and promote resiliency following flood damage in 2019.
On May 6, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched a wide-ranging research effort to investigate the impact of COVID-19 response on the environment, including reduced vehicle traffic, air travel, shipping, manufacturing, and other activities on Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.
On May 7, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the initiation of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations to determine whether prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates are being dumped in the United States, and to determine if producers in Turkey are receiving unfair subsidies.
On May 8, the Minority Business Development Agency introduced the Enterprising Women of Color Virtual Series, a 4-week virtual event series for women of color entrepreneurs looking to reevaluate their business strategies. During this virtual event series, MBDA will also have resource providers on hand to share valuable information on navigating new opportunities to help you formulate your COMEBACK strategy.
Also on May 8, the United States Patent and Trademark Office announced a new COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Program. Under this new pilot program, the USPTO will grant requests for prioritized examination to patent applicants that qualify for small or micro entity status without payment of the typical fees associated with other prioritized examination.
2020 Census
Responding to the #2020Census is easy—you can even do it on your mobile phone. Your participation helps influence future funding for Pell Grants, health care, housing, transportation, and other important education and community services. Respond now: http://2020CENSUS.GOV.