The U.S. and the European Union on Dec. 7 launched the EU-U.S. Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue, which both sides will use to more closely coordinate on competition enforcement and regulations in the technology sector. The effort, which will “occur in parallel” with the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council, will allow various U.S. and EU enforcement agencies to “explore new ways to facilitate coordination and knowledge and information exchanges,” according to a joint statement. The effort may lead to “greater alignment on these pressing issues.” The dialogue will be led by the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach again postponed a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers, the two ports announced Dec. 6. The ports originally planned to begin imposing the fee Nov. 15 (see 2111030027) but have postponed it several times (see 2111290039). The latest extension delays the effective date to Dec. 13. The fee, if implemented, will impose additional charges for containers moving by truck and dwelling for nine days or more, and for containers moving by rail and dwelling for six days or more (see 2110280031).
More than 80 agricultural trade groups this week urged the House to pass the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 (see 2108100011), saying the global transportation “crisis” has “become increasingly dire each month. The bill, which could address unreasonable fees imposed by ocean carriers, is expected to receive a House vote this week. “As the ocean transport crisis deepens, this vote comes not a moment too soon,” the groups said in a Dec. 6 statement signed by the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, the National Pork Producers Council, the U.S. Dairy Export Council and others. “We ask every member of Congress to support the nation’s agriculture community by voting in favor of this bill.”
Foreign companies that list on U.S. stock exchanges must report to the Securities and Exchange Commission whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government, the SEC announced Dec. 2. The change would “require Commission-Identified Issuers to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that, if true, it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in the public accounting firm’s foreign jurisdiction,” the SEC said, adding that it will require evidence of the foreign company’s auditing inspections. The new requirement -- mandated by the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which was passed in 2020 -- could potentially subject more foreign companies to trade and investment restrictions if they are forced to disclose their ownership structures. President Joe Biden in June expanded a Trump-era policy that banned investments in Chinese companies with ties to the country’s military or that operate in the country’s surveillance technology sector (see 2106030067).
The Federal Maritime Commission will hold the first meeting of its maritime data initiative (see 2111160006) Dec. 7, which will examine how data constraints are impeding ocean cargo flow and feature the White House's top port adviser. Officials at the meeting -- including John Porcari, port envoy for the White House’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force -- will also discuss “the need for data standards and transparency to improve supply chain efficiency,” the FMC said. The virtual meeting will begin at 1 p.m. EST.
The U.S. needs to work with global trading allies to find long-term fixes to the supply chain crisis that will transcend future American administrations, Matt Murray, senior bureau official in the State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, told the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance summit in a keynote Dec. 2. “We can’t just look at supply chain issues and say we need to fix it by Christmas because there are these short-term disruptions,” he said.
Barring a steep drop in demand, port congestion and supply chain problems are unlikely to improve next year, and shippers should continue to expect container issues and equipment shortages, Flexport CEO Ryan Peterson said. But companies can take steps to mitigate issues caused by delays and high container fees, including routing shipments away from highly congested ports and minimizing empty space in containers.
The Commerce Department is seeking nominations for a new Industrial Advisory Committee on microelectronics research development, manufacturing and policy, the agency said this week. The committee, to be composed equally of representatives from the semiconductor industry, federal laboratories and academic institutions, will advise the administration on how best to maintain U.S. leadership in microelectronics manufacturing and support the semiconductor sector. The agency will accept committee nominations on an ongoing basis “and will be considered as and when vacancies arise.”
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will hold a one-hour webinar Dec. 7, starting at 2 p.m. EST, on submitting amendments for licenses and registrations, the agency announced this week. The webinar will cover DDTC’s various licensing amendment forms and feature "significant time" dedicated to a question-and-answer session.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Japan's trade minister and the European Union's trade commissioner said their staffs will be working to identify problems caused by non-market practices, to identify gaps in existing enforcement tools and to think about what work is needed to develop rules to address trade-distorting non-market practices. Japan, the EU and the U.S. will also discuss cooperating on using existing trade remedies. The three nations were supposed to have met on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization's 12th Ministerial Conference, but had to meet virtually because of its postponement (see 2111300028). Their joint statement also said that WTO reform is important.