The State Department approved a potential $1 billion military sale to Qatar, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Nov. 29. The sale includes a “Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS)” and related equipment. The principal contractors include Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.

The Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology this week extended until Dec. 12 its comment period as it solicits feedback on certain domestic semiconductor initiatives. NIST, which first requested comments in October, said it’s looking for feedback to “inform the design of, and requirements for, potential Manufacturing USA institutes to strengthen the semiconductor and microelectronics innovation ecosystem, which could include design, fabrication, advanced test, assembly, and packaging capability.” Responses will inform the agency’s “development of funding opportunities for federal assistance to establish Manufacturing USA semiconductor institutes,” a national network of linked manufacturing institutes aimed at bolstering U.S. technology innovation, as envisioned in the Chips and Science Act. Comments were originally due Nov. 28.

The Pentagon this week released its annual report to Congress on Chinese military and security developments, detailing China’s strategy to become the world’s technology leader and other efforts that threaten U.S. national security. The report outlines initiatives by China to illegally acquire dual-use equipment through “espionage” and to subsidize domestic firms to disadvantage foreign businesses, as well as its relationship with heavily sanctioned countries, including North Korea and Iran.

The State Department is seeking comments on an information collection involving commodity jurisdiction determinations. The collection states that exporters may request a written determination from the agency stating whether a particular article or defense service is controlled by the U.S. Munitions List. Comments on the collection are due by Dec. 30.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on Nov. 29 released its notifications to Congress of recently proposed export licenses. The July through September notices feature arms sales to numerous countries, including Canada, Italy, Qatar, the U.K. and the United Arab Emirates.

The State Department approved a potential $323.3 million military sale to Finland, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Nov. 28. The sale includes “AIM 9X Block II tactical missiles, AGM-154 Joint Stand Off Weapons” and related equipment. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense.

The State Department is seeking comments on an information collection related to technology security and clearance plans, screening records and nondisclosure agreements. These procedures help “prevent diversion to any destination, entity, or for purposes other than those authorized by the applicable export license or other authorization” for an item subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Comments on the information collection are due by Dec 30.

The Federal Maritime Commission issued a draft “Finding of No Significant Impact” for its recent proposed demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2210070079), the agency said in a notice released last week. The finding will become final within 10 days of the notice’s publication in the Federal Register "unless a petition for review is filed," the FMC said. Petitions for review must be submitted on or before Dec. 9.

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls recently posted a name change notice for Ultra Electronics Limited and waived the requirement for amendments to change approved license authorizations because of the “volume” of authorizations requiring amendments to reflect the change, DDTC said. Ultra Electronics Limited was changed to Ultra PMES Limited and Ultra Cyber Limited under a restructuring. New license applications received after Dec. 21 that identify the old name “will be considered for return without action for correction.”

Hong Kong confirmed that calcium carbonate is permitted for use as a food-coloring additive for goods from the U.S., USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a recent report. USDA said it had asked Hong Kong for clarification on the issue because Hong Kong’s positive list of chemicals under its food regulations doesn't “explicitly” list calcium carbonate. USDA said this “welcomed decision” was recently posted by the Hong Kong Center for Food Safety on its website.