A German think tank specialist in semiconductors' value chain vulnerabilities told the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission he's concerned that the policy focus on bringing more production back to either the EU or the U.S. won't achieve its aims because policymakers aren't sure what those aims are.
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 10. 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 17.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to international import certificates. Importers use the certificate to certify to the U.S. government that they won’t reexport the goods “except in accordance with the export control regulations” of the U.S. Comments are due Aug. 12.
The State Department approved a potential $120 million sale of military equipment to Taiwan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 8. The sale includes ship spare parts, ship system spare parts and related equipment. There is no prime contractor, and the equipment will be sourced from approved U.S. Navy vendors or U.S. Navy stock.
A recent surge in exports caused the U.S. trade deficit to shrink in April by the largest amount in more than nine years, Reuters reported June 7. The deficit dropped by about 19% to $87.1 billion, the largest decline since December 2012. The decline comes after years of all-time high trade deficits caused by supply chain issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Maritime Commission this week announced three new initiatives it hopes will aid shippers and address supply chain issues, including one that will establish a new International Ocean Shipping Supply Chain Program and another that will reestablish the commission’s Export Rapid Response Team. The FMC will also “take the steps necessary” for carriers and marine terminal operators to employ a designated FMC compliance officer.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments by Aug. 8 on an information collection related to its export control seminars. The collection deals with voluntary surveys submitted to BIS for its seminars, which helps give the agency feedback on how it can improve its “course offerings to meet the needs of the exporting community.”
The Federal Maritime Commission’s FMC-18 form is “currently experiencing issues,” the commission said in a June 6 notice. The FMC said it’s “working on a solution” for the glitch in the application to become an ocean transportation intermediary.
The Biden administration this week announced an initiative to boost domestic clean energy manufacturing, including for exports. The administration will use the Defense Production Act to “accelerate” production of clean energy technologies for both domestic and foreign sales, the White House said, and also will prioritize energy-related export financing through the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. The aim will be to support “resilient clean energy manufacturing supply chains in allied nations around the world, reducing global dependence on China,” the White House said.
The Agriculture Transportation Coalition this week released a list of policy priorities to help alleviate congestion in the supply chain for agricultural exporters. The list includes the enactment and implementation of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (see 2204200032), establishing data portals at ports to improve efficiency (see 2203150059) and working to avoid disruptions caused by longshore contract negotiations (see 2205230044).