The Treasury Department made several technical changes to the final regulations for the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (see 2001140060), which are intended to “improve the clarity of the rule,” the agency said in a notice. The corrections took effect Feb. 13 and the notice is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register Feb. 18. The final FIRRMA regulations took effect Feb. 13 (see 2002110042).
California-based Alpha and Omega Semiconductor is being investigated by the Justice Department for export control violations relating to shipments to Huawei, the company said in a Feb. 5 press release. The company said it has been ordered by the Commerce Department to stop all shipments to Huawei and is working with the agency to “resolve this issue.” The semiconductor company has an export control compliance program in place and is committed “to comply fully” with U.S. export laws, but said it expects revenue hits due to penalties “incurred in connection with the investigation” and by the “Huawei shipment interruption.”
The State Department recently held a ship registry management and compliance standards symposium in Washington, D.C., to share recommendations to counter North Korean evasion of sanctions in the maritime arena, the agency said Feb. 11. The symposium gathered representatives from international ship registries, classification societies, foreign governments and industry to improve due diligence and inter-industry communications to stop Illegal North Korean shipping practices. The United Nations is expected to release a report next month alleging that North Korea continued to violate international sanctions last year -- specifically through illegal ship-to-ship transfers -- with China’s help (see 2002110016).
The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking comments on the impact of the Chemical Weapons Convention on “commercial activities” during 2019, BIS said in a notice. BIS said it is soliciting comments to help it prepare for its annual certification to Congress about whether “legitimate commercial activities” of chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms are banned by the CWC. Comments are due March 16.
The State Department approved a potential $1.867 billion military sale to India involving an air defense weapon system, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Feb. 10. The sale includes five radar systems and more than 200 missiles. The prime contractors are Raytheon and Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace.
The Department of Energy is seeking comments on a proposal to extend the 20-year term for authorizations of natural gas exports to countries with which the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement, the agency said in a notice. The proposal would cover exports of domestically produced liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas and compressed gas liquid, and allow for exports to countries with which the U.S. does not have an agreement “requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas,” the Energy Department said. Under the proposal, existing non-FTA “authorization holders” could apply to extend their export terms through Dec. 21, 2050, on a “voluntary opt-in basis,” and the agency would issue future non-FTA export authorizations with a “standard export term” lasting through 2050, unless the applicant requests a shorter term. Comments are due by 4:30 p.m. EDT March 12.
U.S. exporters participating in the Food and Beverage Trade Show 2020 in Singapore, March 31 to April 3, can reserve exhibit space under the U.S. pavilion endorsed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the USDA said in a Feb. 6 email. The pavilion will provide exporters with “greater visibility” on the trade show floor and a “turnkey booth package.” Reservations can be made by contacting the pavilion organizer at maiken@oakoverseas.com or (704) 837-1980, ext. 303.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is recruiting U.S. exporters to join the agency on an April trade mission to the Philippines, the USDA said in a Feb. 6 email. The mission, which will visit Manila April 20-22, will give exporters opportunities to meet with trade delegates and local companies looking to import U.S. agricultural goods, USDA said. Applicants should apply to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service by Feb. 13.
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will host a Defense Export Control and Compliance System webinar to cover the process for enrolling an organization’s current DTrade Super Users as DECCS Corporate Administrators, the DDTC said Feb. 7. The webinar, which will be held Feb. 13 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., will also cover how to invite “team members to join a company” and how to set up “License Groups,” DDTC said. The notice provides log-in information for the webinar. The registration and licensing applications for DECCS will launch Feb. 18 (see 2002040060).
U.S. and Ukraine recently held discussions on “strategic trade control issues,” including best practices to restrict trade of dual-use goods and technology related to weapons proliferation, the State Department said Feb. 5. Both sides committed to “nonproliferation goals” and agreed to cooperate on trade controls, the agency said. Ukraine said it is reforming its trade controls to align them with “international best practices.” The discussions, held in Kyiv earlier this week, included officials from the State, Energy, Commerce, Justice and Defense departments, along with top Ukrainian trade officials.