The State Department June 27 authorized another drawdown of $500 million worth of U.S. arms and defense equipment to Ukraine. The package includes Bradley and Stryker vehicles, munitions for air defense systems, artillery, launch rocket systems, anti-tank weapons, anti-radiation missiles, precision aerial munitions and other "essential resources" to "support Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive operations."

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls added a new “Renewal Fee Details” function to its online application system, the agency recently announced. The new function will allow certain users of the Defense Export Control and Compliance System to view their registration expiration date, license period start and end dates, their number of licenses and more information “consolidated into the new Renewal Fee Details window.” Users will also be able to download a .csv file “of all licenses considered when calculating the renewal fee charged by DDTC,” along with other new functionalities. Questions should be directed to PM_DDTCProjectteam@state.gov.

The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration will host a virtual roundtable June 29 to discuss “challenges and opportunities” for strengthening the supply chain and export competitiveness of the American hydrogen industry. The roundtable will feature U.S. industry representatives and government officials, and the agency will consider applications for the discussion on a rolling basis until 25 participants have been selected.

The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration will hold a public meeting of the President's Export Council June 29 after years of inactivity. The council, which hasn’t met since 2016 but whose charter President Joe Biden recently renewed (see 2201030053), will discuss the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and “strengthening U.S. leadership in technology and innovation,” the ITA said in a June 15 notice. The meeting will be broadcast via live webcast on the internet. The council is accepting public written comments through 5 p.m. EDT June 27.

The State Department approved a potential military sale to the Netherlands worth about $611 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The sale includes "MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft" and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems.

Export compliance professionals stressed the importance of restricted party screening, telling this week's American Association of Exporters and Importers’ annual conference the screening process has become even more pivotal as the pace of new U.S. sanctions and export controls increases. Karen Wyman, who heads the trade compliance division at thermal imaging company Teledyne FLIR, said part of that effort is ensuring screening lists are constantly up to date.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said advocates for free trade agreements who argue that 95% of customers are outside our borders are myopic.

The U.S. wants to expand investigations into illegal firearms trafficking and better hold traffickers accountable as part of an effort to curb illegal gun exports to Mexico, the White House said in a fact sheet this week. As part of that effort, DOJ is using new criminal authorities in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, enacted last year, which makes it a federal crime to “act as straw purchaser of firearms intended for unlawful use.” The White House also stressed the importance of CBP’s anti-smuggling operations at ports of entry along the southwest border, including its “numerous robust outbound operations.” ICE and Homeland Security Investigations have seized nearly 1,000 guns and gun parts and more than 125,000 rounds of ammunition so far this fiscal year.

The State Department approved a potential $48.2 million military sale to Spain, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 14. The sale includes “M982A1 Excalibur tactical projectiles” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Raytheon.

The State Department approved two potential military sales, to Kuwait and France, worth nearly $2 billion combined, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 13. The sale to Kuwait includes $1.8 billion worth of contractor engineering technical services and contractor maintenance services, and the principal contractors will be Sigmatech; Kay and Associates; Kellogg Brown, and Root; L3 Technologies; Boeing; General Electric; Industrial Financial Services; and Lockheed Martin. The sale to France includes $160 million worth of “E-2C Hawkeye sustainment items and services,” and the principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman.