The Commerce Department held a stakeholder roundtable April 19 for the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council with speakers from U.S. industry, academia and think tanks. Commerce officials heard from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Georgetown University, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and others. The U.S. and the EU are scheduled to hold another TTC meeting in May, which will include discussions on Russia-related export controls (see 2204130045).

Swiss renewable energy company Viston United Swiss will submit a filing to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. regarding its planned acquisition of California-based Petroteq Energy, an oil production and technology company, Petroteq said in an April 18 SEC filing. The two companies first submitted a declaration to CFIUS in February, but after the committee said it was “unable” to clear the transaction, the companies “pre-filed” a notice with CFIUS April 6, Petroteq said. The companies hope to submit a formal notice “on an expedited basis” in the hopes of beginning CFIUS' 45-day notice review period "as soon as practicable.”

Mimecast, a U.S. information technology security company, received approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to be acquired by U.K.-based Magnesium Bidco, Mimecast said in an April 1 filing. The company was told March 31 that CFIUS had “​​no unresolved national security concerns” with the transaction. The companies had submitted a notification to CFIUS in February (see 2202180020).

Alan Estevez started this week as undersecretary of the Bureau of Industry and Security (see 2204010006), the agency said in an April 19 emailed news release. Estevez “brings an exceptional record of federal leadership and experience navigating some of the most complex national security challenges of the past three decades,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. She said Estevez will bring “invaluable assets” as the agency continues to penalize Russia and focuses on “winning the long-term strategic competition with China” and “ensuring the advancement of U.S. technological leadership.”

The U.S. has committed about $2.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia, the Defense Department said in an April 14 fact sheet, including a range of weapons, defense services and medical supplies. The agency also said the U.S. will continue to expedite authorizations for more defense items to Ukraine and has already authorized third-party transfers of defensive equipment from more than 14 countries. The fact sheet outlines the number of weapons, missile defense systems, ammunition and other defense items and services recently sent to Ukraine.

The State Department recently approved up to $100 million in emergency military assistance to Ukraine, it said in a notice. The notice directs the drawdown of defense articles, services and military training from the Defense Department. The State Department said the aid could not have been met under the authority of the Arms Export Control Act or “any other provision of law.”

The State Department approved a potential $997 million sale of military equipment to Nigeria, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said April 14. The sale includes “AH-1Z Attack Helicopters” and related equipment. The principal contractors will be Bell Helicopter-Textron and General Electric.

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 April 15. 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 April 22.

The State Department this week published two determinations under the Foreign Assistance Act to provide military equipment and services for Ukraine and the Philippines. The Sept. 2, 2021, determination for Ukraine authorized the drawdown of up to $60 million in defense articles and services "to provide assistance to Ukraine," and the Nov. 9, 2020, determination authorized $18 million in defense items for the Philippines "to support counterterrorism operations." The State Department said neither of the military assistance determinations could have been met under the Arms Export Control Act.

The Commerce Department this week announced its National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, whose AI experts will provide recommendations on AI policy. The 27-member committee, which will hold its first meeting May 4, includes industry and academic officials from Google, Microsoft, Cornell University and Stanford University. The NAIAC's formation comes amid Commerce's efforts to propose new export controls on a range of emerging technologies, including AI and AI-powered products.