The U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking public comments on a national plan to increase advanced manufacturing competitiveness, according to an Oct. 5 notice. The agency is seeking information from industry about which emerging technologies will be “key” to help the U.S. compete globally in the next generation of advanced manufacturing, how the U.S. should prioritize research and development strategies, and how the government can support transfers of intellectual property and technologies in ways that help U.S. companies and protect national security. The notice comes as both the Biden administration and Congress seek to provide support and incentives to U.S. advanced technology sectors to better compete with China and safeguard supply chains (see 2107280051, 2105110017 and 2106180019). Comments are due Dec. 17.

The Commerce Department this week announced the official launch of its early alert system to better manage semiconductor supply chain disruptions (see 2109240029). The Microelectronics Early Alert System, which will be administered by the International Trade Administration, will pull from information voluntarily submitted by companies about ongoing supply chain issues, including COVID-19-related plant closures, which will help the government coordinate resources to address those problems. This may include “engagement” with foreign governments or other activities to “safely reopen these critical microelectronics and semiconductor facilities,” Commerce said. The agency hopes the alert system can help it better address real-time supply chain issues, especially those related to the global chip shortage.

The State Department approved a potential $125 million military sale to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Sept. 30. The sale is for EA-18G Growler Aircraft, related defense services and related equipment. The aircraft will be provided from U.S. Navy stock.

The State Department rescinded its statutory debarment of Dennis Haag after receiving a reinstatement request, the agency said in a notice released Sept. 30. The agency debarred Haag in 2018 for violating the Arms Export Control Act but determined the debarment should no longer apply after conducting a “thorough review of the circumstances surrounding his conviction.” The State Department determined that Haag has taken “appropriate steps to address the causes of the violations sufficient to warrant rescission of his statutory debarment.”

The Commerce Department extended its comment period as it seeks feedback on the export competitiveness of U.S. “clean technologies,” the agency said in a notice. The due date was extended from Oct. 1 (see 2109010012) to Oct. 15. The feedback will inform Commerce’s effort to develop a “U.S. Clean Technologies Export Competitiveness Strategy,” which will identify “key issues influencing the deployment” of clean technology goods, highlight opportunities and challenges, and identify “possible actions” for Commerce to take to “foster U.S. export competitiveness.”

The Defense Department issued a final rule this week amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to implement the 2020 rescission of Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism (see 2012170015, 2105190006 and 2101140018). The rule, effective Sept. 29, aligns certain DOD regulations with the removal of U.S. sanctions against Sudan, including the agency’s defense commercial acquisition rules.

The Export-Import Bank is accepting comments on two export financing applications in excess of $100 million, the agency said Sept. 24. The principal supplier for the first application is Weldy Lamont Associates, the obligor is the Senegal National Electricity Agency and the guarantor is Senegal’s Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation. The items being exported are utility poles, transformers, cabling, utility grade batteries. The principal supplier for the second application is Boeing, the obligor is Compania Panamena de Aviacion, S.A., and the guarantors are Copa Holdings, S.A; AeroRepublica, Colombia; Oval Financing Leasing, Ltd., British Virgin Islands; and La Nueva Aerolinea, S.A., Panama. The items being exported are Boeing commercial jet aircraft. Comments are due by Oct. 19.

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls last week posted name changes for Mission Systems Australia Pty Ltd. and DigiNext LLC and is waiving the requirement for amendments to change approved license authorizations because of the “volume” of authorizations requiring amendments to reflect the change in each instance, DDTC said. Mission Systems Australia Pty Ltd. was changed to L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems Australia Pty Ltd. and DigiNext LLC was changed to CS Group - France, DDTC said. New license applications received after Oct. 23 that identify the old name for each company “will be considered for return without action for correction.”

The Commerce and State departments will jointly oversee an “early alert system” to better manage potential semiconductor supply chain disruptions “linked to public health developments in key trading partners,” the White House said Sept. 23. The alert system, announced after the administration met with semiconductor industry representatives to discuss supply chain issues, will allow the government to better anticipate and detect supply chain issues and increase engagement with foreign governments and industry, the White House said.

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is seeking public comments on a proposed rulemaking related to its anti-money-laundering regulations, FinCEN said in a notice. The rule will amend the Bank Secrecy Act to include certain persons engaged in antiquities trade in the definition of a “financial institution,” the notice said. Under the AML regulations, certain categories of financial institutions are required to “identify and verify the identity of beneficial owners of legal entity customers.” Comments are due Oct. 25.