The Commerce Department is seeking comments on the export competitiveness of U.S. “clean technologies,” the agency said Aug. 30. The comments 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 agency defines clean technologies as both established and emerging technologies that can “contribute to a transition to net-zero emissions by significantly removing or reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a specific application compared to existing, carbon-intensive technology in the same application.” The notice also includes a list of various clean technologies. Comments will be considered on a rolling basis and are due 5 p.m. EDT Oct. 1.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. plans to refer a heavily scrutinized transaction to President Joe Biden after it couldn’t identify measures to mitigate the deal’s national security risks. The proposed acquisition of South Korea-based Magnachip Semiconductor Corp. by Beijing-based Wise Road Capital (see 2106150039) could damage U.S. national security, CFIUS told both companies Aug. 27, according to Magnachip’s Aug. 30 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Although Magnachip and Wise Road had proposed mitigation measures to CFIUS, the committee said it couldn’t agree to any measures that “would adequately mitigate the identified risks.”

John Porcari, a Transportation Department deputy secretary and chief operating officer during the Obama administration, has been named port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. Porcari, who was Maryland's transportation secretary and chairman of the Maryland Port Commission before joining the federal government, has been working in the private sector in recent years, including leading the U.S. division of an Israeli company that sells artificial intelligence solutions for traffic congestion.

The Commerce Department announced a new effort this week by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to “improve the security and integrity of the technology supply chain.” NIST will develop a framework to help industry build and assess “secure technology” and open-source software for cybersecurity risks, Commerce said.

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will hold a webinar Sept. 16 on submitting registration renewals and amendments in the Defense Export Control and Compliance System. The session will include a question-and-answer period and other tips and tricks for using DECCS. The Aug. 26 notice includes login information for the webinar.

A readout of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai's video call with the U.S.-China Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's China Center Advisory Board said that she told them that the trade relationship with China is important, and there needs to be "a thorough strategic assessment to craft resilient trade policy that supports the Administration’s efforts to create jobs, raise wages, and strengthen our communities." She "reiterated USTR’s commitment to addressing China’s unfair trade policies and non-market practices that undermine American businesses and workers." The readout made no mention of tariffs, but said the business groups talked about the "challenges and opportunities" in the China market.

The U.S. in recent months has approved license applications for exports of auto chips to Huawei worth hundreds of millions of dollars, Reuters reported Aug. 25. The approved applications have involved licenses to sell chips for various “vehicle components,” including video screens and sensors. License applications for exports of auto chips have faced lower thresholds for approval because they are “generally not considered sophisticated,” the report said. Huawei told Reuters it is “positioning” itself “as a new component provider for intelligent connected vehicles.” Huawei is subject to strict export license requirements (see 2104130041 and 2008170029).

The State Department approved potential military sales to Australia and South Korea, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Aug. 25. The agency approved a $350 million sale to Australia for defense services related to “Future Standard Missile Production” and related equipment. Raytheon Missiles and Defense will be the principal contractor. The agency also approved a $258 million sale to South Korea for “Precision Guided Munitions” and related equipment. The principal contractor will be Boeing.

The State Department sent a proposed rule for interagency review Aug. 23 that will bolster the agency’s “name check vetting process” to better vet potential contractors. The changes could help “mitigate the risk that U.S. government activities could inadvertently benefit terrorist groups, their members, or their supporters,” the agency said.

The State Department released the 2020 Digest of United States Practice in International Law, detailing developments in the field for the 2020 calendar year. The publication provides a record of the “views and practice of the U.S. Government in public and private international law,” the State Department said Aug. 18. The publication discusses key court decisions on topics ranging from nationality, citizenship and passports to international crimes. A section on international trade covers investment disputes under free trade agreements, World Trade Organization developments and intellectual property and Section 301 proceedings.