The International Longshore and Warehouse Union on Aug. 31 officially voted to ratify the tentative labor agreement they reached with the Pacific Maritime Administration in June (see 2306150038), the ILWU said. The union said it voted 75% in favor of the new deal, which expires July 1, 2028, adding that it "protects good-paying jobs in 29 West Coast port communities, maintains health benefits, and improves wages, pensions and safety protections."

CBP officers, along with the FBI and other agencies, last week intercepted an outbound shipment of stolen vehicles worth about $428,306, the agency said in a news release. The government seized 12 vehicles and one John Deere combine. The vehicles were destined to West Africa, and the John Deere combine was destined to South America after being reported stolen in Michigan.

A recently issued paper from the International Chamber of Commerce highlights the “great challenge” facing financial institutions in providing trade finance to businesses, especially those involved in dual-use goods, Stephenson Harwood said in an Aug. 29 client alert.

The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service published status reports this week on benefits for U.S. potato, wine and nuts exports as the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement enters its fifth year. The reports outline the various duties that apply to each export this year.

Connecticut-based electronics manufacturer Hubbell Inc. accused freight forwarder DSV of violating U.S. shipping regulations by failing to provide the required service under a negotiated contract, Hubbell said in an Aug. 28 complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission. The manufacturer also accused DSV, headquartered in Denmark, of assessing $900,000 in overbilled or “improper” charges.

The State Department approved a $104 million potential military sale to Japan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Aug. 28. The sale includes “Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin.

The U.S. government must take a host of actions to slow down Chinese "techno-economic dominance," including preventing Chinese firms from being listed on U.S. stock markets and limiting investment into China, Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, said in an Aug. 28 post.

Over 100 organizations led by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) signed a letter urging the mayors of Los Angeles and Long Beach to oppose a "potential Indirect Source Rule (ISR)" by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). In the letter to the mayors written Aug. 25, groups that include the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America warned that the ISR would have a "devastating impact" on jobs in California, the supply chain, the economy, the transition to "zero-emissions" equipment, the competitiveness of the ports, and the "economic vitality of Port-adjacent communities."

The Treasury Department released its agenda for its second annual conference for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which will be held Sept. 14 in person at the Treasury building in Washington. Speakers include Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, CFIUS head Paul Rosen and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The conference will include sessions on CFIUS priorities, investor due diligence, non-notified transactions, compliance and enforcement and how other legal authorities affect CFIUS. Event registration closes Aug. 31.

Agriculture Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Aug. 24 announced 130 new industry officials to sit on seven agricultural trade advisory committees, including bodies that advise the government on trade policies for animal products, fruits and vegetables, grains, cotton, nuts and more. The new members, who join 70 committee members whose terms haven’t yet expired, will serve until August 2027. The new members represent a range of trade groups and companies.