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 Jan. 21 by email. 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 Jan. 28.
At a virtual World Economic Forum, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the director-general of the World Trade Organization and CEOs in manufacturing and shipping said traders will change the ways they manage supply chains because of lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. Tai said "the pandemic in particular has laid bare vulnerabilities in this version of globalization that we have and existing supply chains that we all feel strongly that we need to address."
The Census Bureau recently released the January issue of its TradeSource newsletter, which provides tips and information on government assistance programs for exporters. The issue outlines how the U.S. Commercial Service can help exporters find new markets and features a blog post from the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, including information on updates to DDTC’s website, licensing and registration activities.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to France worth about $88 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Jan 14. The sale is for “MQ-9 Communications Intelligence Sensor Pod Suites” and related equipment. The principal contractor will be BAE Systems, and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is on contract for “integration work only.”
Terminal operators at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports this week said its traffic mitigation fee will return to normal levels Feb. 1 after proving ineffective. The adjusted fee was originally announced In November by the West Coast Marine Terminal Operator Agreement to help incentivize the movement of containers during off-peak hours (see 2111120022). The fee, in place from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31, was intended to “create a financial incentive” to move containers during off-peak hours by only charging the fee during peak hours,” the WCMTOA said in a Jan. 18 news release.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. is investigating a Chinese investment in California-based Icon Aircraft after receiving allegations that the aircraft manufacturer may be transferring sensitive technology to China, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 18. CFIUS began the review in late November after receiving a memo from a group of Icon’s American shareholders, the report said. In the memo, the shareholders said a Chinese company, Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Investment Co. (PDSTI), has been “installing board members and executives, pressuring others and laying plans to transfer Icon’s technology to China.” In addition to CFIUS, the FBI opened a separate criminal probe and is investigating potentially illegal technology transfers from Icon to China, the report said. Icon said its aircraft don’t have military applications and the company “doesn’t see PDSTI’s investment as a national-security concern,” according to the report. The company also told the WSJ that it expects the CFIUS review to be completed at the end of February. A spokesperson for the Treasury Department, which chairs CFIUS, declined to comment. The FBI and Icon didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
After the first USMCA deputies meeting, Mexico, Canada and the U.S. issued a joint statement saying that they are scrutinizing the implementation of the prohibition on importing goods made with forced labor. They also discussed environmental law enforcement cooperation, and training planned this year for small businesses so they can access the treaty's benefits. All said "though there have been challenges, progress continues to be made under the Agreement."
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 Jan. 14. 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 Jan. 21.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Greece worth about $233 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Jan 12. The sale is for “F100-PW-229 Engine Maintenance” and related equipment. There are no principal contractors for the proposed sale, the agency said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list five tryptamine hallucinogens -- 4-OH-DiPT, 5-MeO-AMT, 5-MeO-MiPT, 5-MeO-DET and DiPT -- under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Jan. 13. “If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess), or propose to handle these five specific controlled substances.” Comments are due by Feb. 14.