Japan is just one of “several additional partners” that Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. are considering involving under a portion of the AUKUS partnership that calls for greater defense trade collaboration, a senior U.S. administration official told reporters this week.
The U.S., Australia and the U.K. are making “progress” on creating license-free defense trade among the three countries under the AUKUS partnership, they said in a joint statement this week. They also said they are considering involving Japan in the effort.
The Commerce Department will award up to $6.6 billion in funding to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company under the Chips Act to help the leading semiconductor manufacturing firm build fabs in Arizona, the agency announced April 8. Commerce said it signed a “non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms” with TSMC for the funding, which will help it build two previously announced fabs in Phoenix (see 2005150033) and an additional third fab before the end of the decade.
The Federal Maritime Commission on April 5 warned the ocean transport industry against imposing unreasonable detention and demurrage fees as shippers and carriers adjust their supply chains due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last month (see 2403260047).
American and Chinese officials discussed tariffs, export controls and market access issues during the April 2-5 first meetings of the U.S.-China Commercial Issues Working Group, both countries said in readouts after the talks.
The Federal Maritime Commission will be conducting network maintenance April 6, and said some of its systems will “experience intermittent outages” from 9 a.m. to noon EDT. Those include the FMC’s common carrier tariff and marine terminal operator schedule registration form; its application for a license as an ocean transportation intermediary; its Foreign Based Unlicensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier Registration; its Agreement Library; its eAgreements Filing System; and its List of FMC Licensed & Bonded OTIs. The FMC said its Service Contract Filing System, or SERVCON, will “remain available” throughout.
U.K.-based aerospace manufacturer Vertical Aerospace said the Bureau of Industry and Security decided not to penalize it after determining the company likely violated U.S. export controls.
U.S. and EU officials speaking in Belgium didn’t divulge many details about what they expect to come from the sixth meeting of the Trade and Technology Council this week, saying mostly that they hope the forum will continue no matter who wins upcoming elections in the U.S. and Europe (see 2403120066).
Speakers on a Georgetown Law Center on Inclusive Trade and Development panel this week dismissed the possibility of the U.S. and China negotiating a compromise or agreement on guardrails for when it's appropriate to make trade or investment restrictions based on national security.
President Joe Biden spoke April 2 with Chinese President Xi Jinping, raising concerns about Chinese “support” for Russia’s defense industrial base and the importance of U.S. technology export controls. “The President emphasized that the United States will continue to take necessary actions to prevent advanced U.S. technologies from being used to undermine our national security, without unduly limiting trade and investment,” the White House said in a readout of the two leaders’ phone call. The White House also said Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen plan to visit China.