The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking comments on an information collection relating to offset agreements worth more than $5 million for sales of weapons systems or defense articles to foreign countries or companies. BIS said it defines offsets as “compensation practices required as a condition of purchase in either government-to-government or commercial sales of defense articles.” Comments on the information collection are due March 15.
The Treasury Department earlier this month added New Zealand to its list of excepted foreign states that benefit from certain exemptions to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. process. New Zealand, along with the U.K., will have until February 2023 to meet certain foreign investment criteria and cement its position as an excepted foreign state. Treasury announced this month that Australia and Canada had met that criteria and will remain eligible for the provision, which provides certain foreign countries exemptions to the CFIUS process, sometimes allowing them to skip CFIUS clearance altogether (see 2201050039 and 2109030039). New Zealand qualifies as an excepted foreign state because of its intelligence-sharing relationship with the U.S., “among other factors,” Treasury said Jan. 5. The agency also pointed to New Zealand’s “collective defense arrangement and cooperation” with the U.S.
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. 10. 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. 17.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking comments on an information collection related to declarations to the Chemical Weapons Convention, according to a notice. BIS said each CWC member must make “initial and annual declarations on certain facilities” that produce, import or export certain toxic chemicals and their precursors. Facilities subject to inspection by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons must also submit certain information. Comments are due March 14.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to France worth about $300 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Jan 7. The sale is for “MQ-9 follow-on contractor logistics support” and related equipment. The principal contractor will be General Atomics.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls recently posted a name change notice for Raytheon Technical Services International, Raytheon Professional Services and Raytheon Systems Israel. It also is waiving the requirement for amendments to change approved license authorizations because of the “volume” of authorizations requiring amendments to reflect the change, DDTC said. Raytheon Technical Services International will become Vertex Technical Services International; Raytheon Professional Services will become Vertex Professional Services; and Raytheon Systems Israel will become Vertex Systems Israel. New license applications that identify the old name on the license and are received after Feb. 4 will be “considered for return without action for correction,” DDTC said. Vertex Aerospace recently bought Raytheon’s Defense Training and Mission Critical Solutions business lines.
The Port of Oakland announced a new effort this week to improve its flow of agricultural exports, including a new 25-acre container yard. The port will also look to restore “export ship calls” and provide more “assistance” to export users. “The Port -- along with our federal and state partners -- is ready to do everything we can to help provide room and relief to help our agricultural customers,” said Danny Wan, the port’s executive director.
The Bureau of Industry and Security extended the comment period for an information collection relating to transfers of export licenses, the agency said in a notice. Export licenses can be transferred under “certain circumstances,” the agency said, such as company mergers or takeovers that “necessitate the transfer of an active export license from one party to another.” Comments were previously due Dec. 20 (see 2110180009), but BIS said it will allow for an additional 30 days. Comments are now due by Feb. 7.
Thea Kendler, President Joe Biden’s choice to be the Bureau of Industry and Security's assistant secretary for export administration, was officially sworn in to her position, BIS said this week. The agency said Kendler will lead Export Administration’s “highly trained technical professionals” in controlling dual-use and military exports, analyzing the impact of those export controls and supporting the U.S. defense industrial base. She also will chair the Advisory Committee on Export Policy, which resolves interagency policy disputes on export license applications submitted to BIS. The Senate confirmed Kendler in December (see 2112150009).
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America issued its 2022 U.S. Principal Party in Interest Responsibility Information Sheet. Forwarders can use the guidance, updated Jan. 1, to help their export customers better understand their exporting responsibilities, including commodity jurisdiction issues, due diligence requirements and export filing mandates.