The U.S. and the United Kingdom agreed to formally recognize each other's authorized economic operator (AEO) programs, CBP said in a Jan. 21 news release. “This arrangement will take U.S.-UK cooperation on supply chain security to the next level,” said William Ferrara, executive assistant commissioner of the CBP Office of Field Operations. “Mutual recognition of the U.S. and UK authorized economic operator programs will mitigate risks, improve information sharing, and eliminate red tape for our partners in the trade community.” The agreement means CBP “will accept the validation of UK Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) and grant them approval status in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT),” it said. “Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will likewise accept the validation of CTPAT members and grant them approval status as AEOs.”
The State Department withdrew a proposed rule that would have permanently amended the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to allow employees involved in ITAR-related activity to work remotely. The rule, which was sent for interagency review Dec. 3 (see c), was withdrawn Jan. 20, according to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The White House on Jan. 20 announced a withdrawal of pending rules issued by the previous administration to allow incoming officials to review and approve them. The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls had considered making the telework change permanent because it proved popular with industry (see 2004240017, 2007280014 and 2012100009). A DDTC spokesperson declined to comment.
The Census Bureau deleted the country code for Western Sahara, EH, in the Automated Export System, according to a Jan. 19 Census email to industry. Census said questions should be directed to the agency’s Trade Data Collection Branch.
The Defense Department on Jan. 14 released another list of Chinese companies with ties to the country’s military. The latest tranche includes nine companies, including businesses operating in the semiconductor, technology and aviation sectors. The companies will be subject to certain investment bans under an executive order President Donald Trump issued in November (see 2011130026). The latest list follows the release of several similar lists last year (see 2008300001, 2006250024 and 2012040008).
Industry may experience delays in wait times on responses from the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls due to road closures and other public safety measures in place in Washington through next week, DDTC said Jan. 13. DDTC is expecting “longer than normal wait times” on responses from DDTC staff, including communications related to mail and the DDTC Response Team or Help Desk, through Inauguration Day Jan. 20. “We appreciate your patience and will get back to you as soon as we can,” DDTC said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking comments, due March 15, on an information collection related to a request for appointment of a technical advisory committee, it said in a Jan. 14 notice. The collection describes the functions and responsibilities of the Commerce Department TACs. “The TACs advise the government on proposed revisions to export control lists, licensing procedures, assessments of the foreign availability of controlled products, and export control regulations.” the notice says.
The U.S. and Bahrain signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a U.S. trade zone in Bahrain to help boost trade between the two countries, the Commerce Department said Jan. 13. Commerce said the zone will be a trade, manufacturing, logistics and distribution “hub” for U.S. companies operating in the country. It will allow U.S. businesses “multimodal access to an area ideal for crossdocking activities, end-to-end specialized customs solutions and fast track operation for the purpose of exporting” via the Khalifa bin Salman Port, the Bahrain International Airport and the King Fahd Causeway and “future customs posts” created by Bahrain.
The White House launched a National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office to help ensure U.S. leadership in AI technology, it said in a news release Jan. 12. The office will oversee the national AI strategy and act as the “central hub” for AI research and federal policymaking across government agencies, including engagement with industry and academia. In October, the White House issued a national strategy on critical and emerging technologies to better synchronize agency policy efforts, including for AI technologies (see 2010150038). The new AI office within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy comes as the Commerce Department works on export controls for AI and a range of emerging technologies (see 2101050018 and 2009170026).
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America recently published two export compliance documents to help guide freight forwarders involved in exporting, the group said in a Jan. 11 email to industry. The U.S. Principal Party in Interest export responsibility information sheet provides guidance on the responsibilities of an export customer in an export transaction, and the Shipper’s Letter of Instruction model is intended to help forwarders as they gather required export control information and create a company-specific SLI.
The Commerce Department is adjusting its civil monetary penalties for inflation for 2021, the agency said in a Jan. 11 notice. The inflation adjustments apply only to penalties “with a dollar amount,” not those “written as functions of violations,” Commerce said. The rule is effective Jan. 15, it said.