The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports again postponed by a week a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers (see 2110280031), the two ports announced June 17. The ports had planned to begin imposing the fee in November 2021 but have postponed it each week since. The latest extension delays the effective date until June 24.
Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology published a report this week on China’s state-operated laboratory system, which is used to drive the country’s innovation and research and ultimately reduce its dependence on foreign technogloies. The report includes a dataset of 469 state labs, including a table of labs with at least one "supporting unit" subject to U.S. sanctions or export controls, such as the Commerce Department’s Entity List.
The State Department officially renewed the charter for its Defense Trade Advisory Group for another two years, the agency said in a notice this week. The DTAG advises the agency on “its support for and regulation of defense trade” and helps to “reduce unnecessary impediments to legitimate exports.” During the most recent DTAG plenary meeting in April, the agency said it was "finalizing” discussions with several trading partners on its new open general license concept for certain defense exports (see 2204290032).
More than 120 business executives this week urged congressional leadership to “act urgently” to pass the Bipartisan Innovation Act, which is currently in conference. The bill is “critical” to the U.S. economy and would help strengthen domestic manufacturing and supply chains, said a June 15 letter signed by the leaders of major technology firms, electronics manufacturers, semiconductor companies and others. “Our global competitors are investing in their industry, their workers, and their economies, and it is imperative that Congress act to enhance U.S. competitiveness,” the letter said. “We call on Congress to act promptly to achieve a bipartisan agreement that can be passed and signed into law.” Signers include CEOs of Adobe, Uber Technologies, Alphabet, GlobalFoundries, IBM, TSMC and Lockheed Martin.
Several Federal Maritime Commission systems are unavailable for use during required maintenance, including its e-monitoring, electronic reading room and certain forms, the FMC said June 13. The commission specifically said its Common Carrier Tariff and MTO Schedule Registration Automated Form FMC-1 is unavailable, as is its Application for License as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary Automated Form FMC-18. The FMC said the systems will be “electronically inaccessible to the public” until the maintenance is complete, but the FMC may be able to provide certain information via email. For e-monitoring lreports purposes, the FMC said industry should send monitoring reports, meeting minutes or other documents to tradeanalysis@fmc.gov and “cc (copy) the economist who is assigned to the agreement. Once the system is back online, we will ask you to submit the materials directly in the system.”
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to its license exemptions and exclusions for export-controlled goods. Comments are due Aug. 15.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week released a 13-page document on its five-year “Information Technology Strategic Plan,” which aims to improve the agency’s IT efforts. The plan will “strive to maximize the value of technology and data supporting the BIS missions, partners, workforce, and ultimately the American people,” the agency said. The plan also will help the agency better collect and analyze licensing data, improve its technology “architecture,” pursue upskilling and more.
The U.S. this week spoke with China to again warn it about helping Russia avoid international sanctions, a senior administration official said. During a June 13 meeting between U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi, Sullivan “reiterated concerns that the United States has raised repeatedly with China with respect to certain kinds of assistance to Russia,” the official said during a call with reporters. Although U.S. officials said they haven’t yet seen signs that China is helping Moscow evade sanctions, the U.S. has publicly and privately warned Beijing it will face severe penalties if it does so, including secondary sanctions and strict export controls (see 2203140009).
Several companies recently updated the status of their ongoing reviews with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. One of the companies, Swiss renewable energy company Viston United Swiss, was notified that CFIUS officially began its 45-day notice review period into its planned acquisition of California-based Petroteq Energy, an oil production and technology company (see 2204200015). The two companies had filed the notice to CFIUS May 16 and were told the review period started May 24, Viston said in a document filed with the SEC.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to Form BIS–999. The form, a Request for Special Priorities Assistance, is required for enforcement and administration of the Defense Production Act, the Selective Service Act and the Defense Priorities and Allocation System regulation. Contractors use the form to “obtain timely delivery of products, materials, or services from suppliers, or for any other reason under the DPAS, in support of approved national programs,” BIS said. Comments are due Aug. 15.