The U.S. and Japan agreed to continue cooperating around technology export controls in a meeting between their two top commerce ministers April 10.

The State Department has drafted a proposed rule that could create a new exemption in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations for “defense trade and cooperation” with Australia and the U.K. The agency sent the rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs April 9.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on April 10 issued a new white paper with a list of “commendations” and recommendations it gave to universities and research centers during visits over the last few years to check their compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. DDTC said universities and researchers can use the eight-page paper to learn about best practices and government expectations for ITAR compliance. The agency said the visits took place between 2020 and early 2024.

The International Trade Commission is preparing for new Chinese export controls on germanium and gallium to have a potentially “significant” impact on global supply chains, it said in a recently issued executive trade briefing (see 2307050018).

The Bureau of Industry and Security completed nearly a quarter of its end-use checks with a “less than favorable outcome” in FY 2023, a Commerce Department official said, meaning the agency couldn’t verify those end-users as a reliable recipient of U.S.-origin export-controlled goods.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is expecting to soon finalize its proposed rule on License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization and is close to publishing new U.S. persons controls to restrict activities that support foreign military, security or intelligence agencies, said Thea Kendler, the agency’s assistant secretary for export administration.

Beijing this week urged the Netherlands to continue allowing its companies to service and repair semiconductor equipment in China, saying Dutch companies should fulfill their “contractual obligations” with their Chinese customers.

U.S. companies interested in divesting Russian assets that are subject to the Export Administration Regulations may need to obtain multiple licenses from the U.S. government, a Commerce Department official said March 28.

Exporters should closely examine the internet presence and physical addresses of their potential customers to help them determine whether they are dealing with legitimate businesses, Commerce Department officials said March 27.

The Bureau of Industry and Security hasn't yet made a decision on whether to move forward with export controls on automated peptide synthesizers after proposing the restrictions in April last year (see 2304190060), a Commerce Department official said this week.