The Bureau of Industry and Security will hold a virtual export control policy conference Sept. 2, covering updates on export control regulations, license exceptions, semiconductor controls and the Entity List. The conference will include a question-and-answer session with BIS officials and “other agency experts,” and will feature updates from the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, sanctions policy and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. BIS canceled its in-person annual conference earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2005210051).
The State Department approved a potential military sale to the Philippines worth about $126 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said July 30. The sale includes scout, assault and “light support” boats with armaments and related equipment. The principal contractor for the scout and assault boats is Willard Marine Inc. The principal contractor for the light support boats will be selected “through an open competition contract,” the agency said. The sale also includes 156 machine guns, 36 Gatling guns, thermal scopes and thermal weapons sights, lasers, radios and boat spare parts.
The FDA amended its export listing procedures for dairy and infant formula firms exporting to China to reflect provisions in the U.S-China phase one trade deal, the agency said in a July 29 email to industry. Because the deal recognizes the U.S. dairy safety system “as providing at least the same level of protection” as China’s system, dairy facilities no longer have to provide FDA with confirmation that a third-party auditor “has found the firm to be in compliance” with Chinese dairy regulations, the agency said. This change applies to all Export Listing Module applications received as of July 1. The FDA said its announcement follows a U.S. Department of Agriculture notice that it will no longer conduct plant audits for dairy firms exporting to China as of July 1.
The Treasury Department finalized the fee structure for filing certain transactions with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and made a “clarifying revision” to the definition of “principal place of business,” according to a final rule released July 28. The fee structure was first outlined in March and April (see 2004280027), and the original definition for principal place of business was outlined in a January rule. The rule takes effect Aug. 27.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Kuwait worth about $59.6 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said July 28. The sale includes M1A2K training ammunition and equipment. The principal contractor is BAE Systems.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to the Netherlands worth about $39 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said July 27. The sale includes 16 “AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles” and related equipment. The principal contractor is Raytheon Missiles and Defense.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is seeking comments on an information collection related to advisory opinion requests, a notice released July 27 said. The revision of the collection is meant to “conform the current [Office of Management and Budget]-approved data collection to DDTC’s new case management system,” the notice said. Comments are due Aug. 27.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Chile worth about $635 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said July 23. The sale includes equipment and services to modernize Chile’s F-16s, including “joint helmet-mounted cueing systems,” “general purpose bomb bodies” and radios, the notice said. The principal contractor is Lockheed Martin.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on July 23 extended a measure to “allow continued telework operations” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure, first announced in April (see 2004240017), suspended an International Traffic in Arms Regulations requirement to allow employees involved in ITAR-related activities to work remotely. The measure, which was to expire July 31, will be extended to Dec. 31, the agency said.
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs concluded interagency reviews of two final rules from the Bureau of Industry and Security. On July 16, OIRA completed review of a rule to suspend license exceptions for Hong Kong. BIS announced the license suspensions last month along with a guidance and savings clause (see 2006300050). OIRA received the rule July 10. On July 17, OIRA completed review of a rule to implement export control changes agreed to during the 2018 Wassenaar Arrangement. The rule will also make revisions related to national security controls. OIRA received the rule May 20.