DOJ's recent moves charging 11 individuals and various corporate entities for their roles in schemes to evade U.S. sanctions and export controls on Russia signal the government's continuing efforts to "aggressively enforce" restrictions on Russia, law firm Paul Weiss said in an analysis posted online Oct. 26. As a result, multilateral corporations with international supply chains need to ramp up compliance measures and be aware that international cooperation has expanded the reach of U.S. sanctions enforcement, the firm said.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, in a Federal Register notice published Oct. 26, asked for applications from people who would like to serve on panels that review final determinations in antidumping or countervailing duty proceedings and amendments to AD/CVD statutes of a USMCA Party. These people would be on the roster from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. Applications are due by Nov. 30, and can be submitted at www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2022-0015.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is conducting a survey to assess the U.S. microelectronics industrial base, the agency announced this week. Answers for the survey will help BIS complete a study on the microelectronics industrial base mandated by the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. BIS said its support staff can be reached at SemiconductorStudy@bis.doc.gov “to answer questions and assist in completion of the survey."
The U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council will next meet on Dec. 5. The two sides announced this week. The council’s third meeting will be held in the Washington, D.C., area and comes after the second meeting, held in May in Paris, where the two sides agreed to several export control and investment screening initiatives (see 2205160033).
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week extended the comment period on an information collection related to its license exemptions and exclusions for export-controlled goods. In June, comments were requested during a 60-day period (see 2206140007), but the agency said it’s allowing for an additional 30 days of input.
The State Department on Oct. 21 completed an interagency review for a final rule to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The rule would make amendments to “Supplement No. 1 to part 126 in Support of Allies.” The rule was sent for interagency review Sept. 17.
The Biden administration is weighing whether it should subject billionaire Elon Musk’s deal to buy Twitter and his SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network venture to national security investment reviews, Bloomberg reported Oct. 20. U.S. officials have “grown uncomfortable over Musk’s recent threat to stop supplying the Starlink satellite service to Ukraine” and what they view as his “increasingly Russia-friendly stance following a series of tweets,” the report said. Musk’s plans to buy Twitter could involve foreign investors, and the administration is reviewing whether the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. could scrutinize the deal for national security risks, the report said. A White House spokesperson didn’t comment.
The State Department approved a potential $450 million military sale to Japan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 20. The sale includes “Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) Block I missiles” and related equipment. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense.
The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports again postponed by one month a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers (see 2110280031), the two ports announced Oct. 21. The ports had planned to begin imposing the fee in November 2021 but postponed it each week until July 29, when the ports announced their first one-month postponement (see 2207290053). The latest one-month extension delays the effective date until Nov. 18.
The State Department approved a possible $162 million military sale to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 19. The sale includes “non -MDE MH-60R sustainment items and services.” The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin.