The State Department approved two potential military sales to Norway worth more than $1.1 billion combined, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said April 26. The first sale, worth about $1 billion, is for “MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems. The second sale, worth about $166 million, is for “sustainment and services for C-130J aircraft” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin.
Covington & Burling recently released a Chinese language version of DOJ’s revised Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs. The translated document, posted by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Blog, includes DOJ’s March update that introduced changes to how it assesses corporate compliance programs’ approach to communications platforms (see 2303030056, 2304050081 and 2304240019).
The Commerce Department launched a paper this week detailing its strategy for a National Semiconductor Technology Center, a “key component” of the Chips Act designed to support and improve American leadership and competitiveness in semiconductor research, design, engineering and advanced manufacturing. The paper outlines how the NSTC will “accelerate America’s ability to develop the chips and technologies of the future,” the agency said, including by creating “affiliated technical centers around the country.”
Users of the State Department’s Defense Export Controls and Compliance System are now limited to five attempts when responding to password recovery questions within the application, the agency said this week. “After the fifth attempt, the account will be locked,” the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls said. Users who are unable to access their DECCS account for this reason should contact the DDTC information technology help desk at ddtccustomerservice@state.gov.
Compliance departments are “well-poised to handle” DOJ’s recently revised policies for how it assesses corporate compliance programs’ approach to communications platforms (see 2303030056), and “it’s totally within their competency and wheelhouse to do so,” said Julie DiMauro, a compliance professional with Global Relay, which helps businesses supervise and report communications intelligence. DiMauro rebutted comments from a former DOJ official who said this month that the new policies are “virtually unenforceable” (see 2304050081).
South Korea-based SM Line Corp. failed to properly perform its transportation obligations to inland destinations, leading to unfair detention and demurrage charges, Samsung Electronics America said in an April 19 complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission. Samsung accused the global shipping company of "unjust and unreasonable" practices in handling property, providing invoices without "adequate information" and imposing unreasonable charges in violation of U.S. shipping regulations. Samsung asked the FMC to require SM Line to pay Samsung reparations for the "unlawful conduct" and order it to stop the conduct. Samsung also requested an oral hearing.
Hogan Lovells recently published a “global legal guide” to help companies analyze the “increasing number and complexity” of foreign direct investment screening regimes around the world. The guide provides information on and comparisons of FDI screening regimes in more than 20 jurisdictions across the Americas, the Asia Pacific and Europe, including the types of transactions subject to mandatory or voluntary filings, the principal authorities, timelines for review and potential penalties.
CBP should implement a “standardized national process” for vehicle exports across U.S. ports, said Brian Barber, vice president of U.S. brokerage operations and government affairs at Willson International. Barber, speaking this week during CBP’s Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit, said a more streamlined process could help brokers keep track of various vehicle export procedures.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Turkey worth about $259 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said April 17. The sale includes defense articles and services to “support upgrading its current fleet of F-16 aircraft.” The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
The Federal Maritime Commission this week posted an instructional video on how to file a charge complaint. Charge complaints were established by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (see 2207140045). The video includes information about "the types of charges that can be contested, the materials needed to file a complaint, how investigations are conducted, and potential outcomes," according to an FMC press release.