The State Department recently launched an informal, voluntary network for the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) security partnership to share information with stakeholders who are outside the traditional defense industry, an agency official said June 21.

The White House should do more to remove foreign trade barriers for U.S. services exports, enforce existing trade services agreements and take other steps to help the American services export industry, the President’s Export Council said in a letter earlier this month. The letter, written by council chair Mark Ein, said American services exports are “often subject to market access restrictions and discriminatory treatment as governments seek to favor their own services companies, and current “impediments are already significant and growing.”

The State Department approved a possible military sale to the Netherlands worth about $678 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 13. The sale includes “Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended Range” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be RTX Corp.

The State Department approved a potential $1.94 billion military sale to Norway, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 11. The sale includes “AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be RTX Corp.

The Bureau of Industry and Security imposed a $285,000 civil penalty on Sapphire Havacilik San Ltd. to resolve allegations that the Turkey-based company flew a U.S.-origin Gulfstream aircraft on private charter flights into Russia without a required BIS reexport license, the agency announced June 13. The flights occurred in October 2023 and January 2024 and were arranged by Russian nationals.

The State Department has renewed the charter of its Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) for two years, the agency announced June 14. The DTAG advises the department on issues involving its defense trade regulations.

The Federal Maritime Commission this week updated its record of cases and decisions related to shipping violations “that may be significant or establish legal precedent.” The 132-page document covers cases that took place from June through December 2023, including various settlement approvals, orders not to review, a charge complaint and more.

The Federal Maritime Commission recently sent the shipping and freight forwarding industry guidance about the FMC’s February final rule that set new demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2402230049). The six-page document, provided to us by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, includes 19 frequently asked questions and answers related to the rule, covering questions including timelines for disputing detention and demurrage invoices issued by ocean carriers and terminal operators, extended dwell fees assessed by U.S. ports and the definition of “billed party.”

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network received about 4.6 million suspicious activity reports during FY 2023, an increase from the 4.3 million it received the previous year, according to an annual report released last week. Of the 4.6 million reports filed, just 1,500 involved terrorist financing concerns, the agency said, and about 1.6 million involved suspected money laundering.

The Federal Maritime Commission launched an updated website this week that it said is easier to navigate and will better allow members of the public to “identify and request assistance from the agency.” The site now includes a dedicated gateway to share information with the FMC, submit a complaint and more.