In an annual report about intellectual property challenges around the globe, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative praised progress at the United Arab Emirates, and repeated concerns about dozens of countries' weak enforcement and policies it says are barriers to U.S. businesses. China, India, Russia, Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Venezuela spent another year on the USTR's "priority watch list" for intellectual property violations, while Algeria moved to the lower-intensity "watch list."
The Bureau of Industry and Security will hold its annual conference virtually in September, the agency announced this week. The Sept. 2 meeting will be a “full day virtual experience” from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. featuring keynote speakers, information sessions and live question-and-answer periods with BIS and other agency officials. The agenda will include sessions on changes to BIS military end-user and end-use restrictions, the expansion of the foreign direct product rule, and emerging and foundational technologies.
Nearly 300 agriculture groups and companies urged the Department of Transportation to intervene as carriers continue to decline shipments of agricultural exports. The agency should “utilize all existing authorities” and help the Federal Maritime Commission “in expediting its enforcement options” to deal with the carriers, the groups said, which are sending empty containers back overseas rather than filling them with exports because the carriers can charge higher rates for imports (see 2103050014).
The Bureau of Industry and Security is looking for candidates for its seven Technical Advisory Committees, the agency said in an April 27 notice. BIS said it will choose candidates from firms producing a “broad range of items currently controlled for national security, nonproliferation, foreign policy, and short supply reasons or that are proposed for such controls,” and will look to balance its TAC membership with officials from large and small firms. TAC members serve terms of “not more than four consecutive years” and must obtain “secret-level clearances” before they’re appointed. Applicants should send a resume to Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov by Sept. 30.
The State Department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency approved a $1.651 billion military sale to Australia, an April 23 news release said. The sale includes 12 “MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft” and related equipment. The principal contractors will be General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Leonardo.
The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. is seeking comments on how it can best implement its “Program on China and Transformational Exports,” which authorizes Ex-Im support for certain export transactions containing a U.S content level of 51% or more and makes exports with Chinese content “presumptively ineligible” for financing. The bank specifically seeks comments on the level of U.S. and foreign content in certain “identified transformational export areas” to help it better support exporters “competing” with China, an April 23 notice said. Those export areas include emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing and semiconductor manufacturing. Comments are due May 14.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on April 23 released its notifications to Congress of recently proposed export licenses. The 29 notifications, from October through December, feature arms sales to numerous countries including the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iraq, France and Italy.
The Bureau of Industry and Security extended its comment period for an information collection related to a request for appointment of a technical advisory committee, it said in a notice released April 23. The collection describes the functions and responsibilities of the Commerce Department TACs, which help advise the government on proposed revisions to export controls, licensing procedures and more. The comments, originally due March 15 (see 2101130013), are now due 30 days after the notice is posted on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website.
The Federal Maritime Commission plans to permanently revise its regulations to give shippers and carriers more flexibility surrounding service contract filing requirements. The change, outlined in an upcoming final rule, will allow ocean carriers to file original service contracts with the FMC up to 30 days after they take effect, the FMC said April 19. The commission had introduced this change on a temporary basis over the past year to help carriers mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic but will make it permanent after receiving “positive” feedback from industry. Previously, FMC required carriers to file initial service contracts before they were allowed to receive and move cargo under the terms of that contract. The FMC expects to publish the rule in the “coming weeks” and said it will take effect June 2. It also published an unofficial copy of the rule.
More than 15 former U.S. national security officials urged the Biden administration to support and fund legislation aimed at aiding the semiconductor industry and boosting U.S. competitiveness toward China. The April 13 letter, signed by former CIA directors, national security advisers and Defense Department officials, endorsed the Endless Frontier Act (see 2104140051) and the recently enacted Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act (see 2006110038), saying they will help build an “offensive strategy” to counter China and support innovation in critical technologies.