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Low-cost TVs: Free trade may be good for American consumers, but it isn't always good for American workers. So concluded a US trade panel investigating charges that Chinese manufacturers have been "dumping" low-cost television sets on the US market over the past three years. On May 14, the US International Trade Commission voted unanimously to impose duties averaging 23% on imports of Chinese-made color televisions (CTVs), an action that could force up retail prices. Acting on a petition brought by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the Industrial Division of the Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA), and Five Rivers Electronic Innovations, LLC, a TV manufacturer in Greeneville, Tennessee, the Commission found that between 2001 and 2003, total CTV imports from China rose 3000%, from 56,000 units to 1.8 million units. Imports of consumer goods reached an all-time high of $31.3 billion in March 2004, according to Five Rivers president Tom Hopson.

<I>Angelina Jolie, Gerard Butler, Chris Barrie, Noah Taylor, Ciarn Hinds, Djimon Hounson. Directed by Jan de Bont. Aspect ratio: 16:9 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English, French). 117 minutes. 2003. Paramount 340724. PG-13. $29.99.</I>

"Better and cheaper" seems to be the mantra in the product development department at V, Inc. The Costa Mesa, CA-based video display maker has announced two new high-performance products - a DVD player and an HDTV receiver - certain to tweak the interest of budget-conscious home theater fans.