The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls recently posted a name change notice for L3 Micreo Pty Ltd and waived the requirement for amendments to change approved license authorizations because of the “volume” of authorizations requiring amendments to reflect the change, DDTC said. L3 Micreo Pty Ltd was changed to L3Harris Micreo Pty Ltd. New license applications received after March 3 that identify the old name “will be considered for return without action for correction.”
The State Department approved three potential military sales to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates worth more than $4 billion combined, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Feb. 3.
The Congressional Research Service on Feb. 3 updated its report on trade with South Korea, outlining how various goods have faired under the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement. CRS said U.S. exports to South Korea dropped by 15% from 2019 to 2020, “in large part due to pandemic-related challenges,” but have been “strong” in sectors with large tariff reductions under the trade agreement, such as beef, fresh fruit and tree nuts. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment from South Korea reached $63.7 billion in 2020, which was more than triple its $19.9 billion level in 2011.
The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports again postponed a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers (see 2110280031), the two ports announced Feb. 4. The ports originally planned to begin imposing the fee Nov. 15, but have postponed it each week since. The latest extension delays the effective date until Feb. 11.
U.S. exporters must comply with new “documentary requirements” on certain shipments of composite products to the EU, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service said in a Jan. 28 report. As of Jan. 15, U.S. exporters are required to obtain a U.S. government-issued export certificate for “all non-shelf stable composite products and for shelf-stable composite products containing meat,” with certain exceptions, USDA said. “For shelf-stable composite products not containing meat, a private attestation from the importer will be required,” the agency said. The affected composite products include a “wide variety” of food items, among them cheesecakes, high-protein food supplements, pizza and some condiments.
The State Department’s Defense Trade Advisory Group is accepting membership applications from subject matter experts in the U.S. defense industry, the agency said in a notice. Members serve a consecutive two-year term and submit recommendations to improve the agency’s export control regime. Applications must be emailed or postmarked by Feb. 25.
The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sent a proposed rule for interagency review that involves the Form 9 Notification for exports of firearms that are subject to the National Firearms Act. The form is used by exporters to obtain approval to permanently export certain firearms and claim exemptions from transfer taxes. Exporters using the form must first receive export approval from the State Department. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs received the proposed rule Feb. 1. ATF didn’t provide more information about the proposal, and an agency spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Terminal operators at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports will again adjust their traffic mitigation fee this month to help incentivize the movement of containers during off-peak hours. The fee -- originally announced in November by the West Coast Marine Terminal Operator Agreement (see 2111120022) -- had returned to normal levels Feb. 1 (see 2201180043), but the Biden administration asked the WCMTOA on Jan. 21 to continue the fee program, the terminals announced Feb. 1. The fee, which is scheduled to take effect again Feb. 14, will change to $78.23 per TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) and will be charged only on weekdays during the daytime shift. The Biden administration’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force hopes the fee adjustment incentivizes “more truck trips to the off-peak shifts.”
Qatar Airways will buy a series of aircraft from Boeing in what will be the “largest dollar value commitment for freighter aircraft” in Boeing’s history, the Commerce Department announced Jan. 31. Under a deal between the two entities, the Qatar airline could purchase about 100 planes worth around $30 billion from Boeing, Reuters reported. The freighters will be manufactured in the U.S. and will translate to “billions of dollars more in exports, and a much-needed boost to America’s manufacturing sector,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said.
The International Trade Commission is seeking submissions for the foreign-trade zones investigation it is doing, which includes a question on whether firms manufacturing in American FTZs are at a disadvantage to firms operating in similar zones in Canada and Mexico. A notice in the Federal Register gives details about a public hearing in connection with the ITC investigation that will be held May 17. Requests to testify must be submitted by May 3. The report will be complete and sent to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative by April 14, 2023, the agency said.