The State Department approved potential military sales to Denmark, Hungary, Japan, Lithuania and South Korea, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Aug. 27.

If the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is passed, its impact will be felt almost immediately, Vice President Mike Pence said, speaking to reporters in South Carolina on Aug. 27.

The National Pork Producers Council applauded the U.S. and Japan trade agreement, saying it would place U.S. pork exporters “back on a level playing field” with competitors in one of the U.S.’s “most important export markets.” “We look forward to rapid implementation of the agreement as international competitors are currently taking U.S. pork market share through more favorable access,” NPPC President David Herring said in an Aug. 25 statement. The council, citing a study, said U.S. exports to Japan will grow from $1.6 billion in 2018 to more than $2.2 billion “over the next 15 years” as a result of the trade deal. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the agreement at the G-7 summit in France (see 1908260033).

The State Department issued three technical corrections to the Cuba Restricted List, in a notice.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls rescheduled its In-House Seminar from Sept. 18 to Oct. 9 due to scheduling conflicts, the DDTC said in an Aug. 22 notice. DDTC is extending registration for an additional week, but remains "first-come, first-served." Questions should be directed to DDTCInHouseSeminars@state.gov.

The State Department approved the potential sale of $8 billion worth of defense-related goods to Taiwan, the Defense Department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an Aug. 20 press release. The sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office includes 66 F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft, engines, radars, computers, “multipurpose launchers” and other military products. The sale serves U.S. national interests by supporting Taiwan’s military to help it “maintain a credible defensive capability,” the press release said.

The Senate will likely confirm Tom Feddo as a top official for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., a “positive and timely development” for companies involved in foreign investment compliance, according to an Aug. 19 post from Arent Fox. Feddo is expected to be named the first assistant secretary of the Treasury for investment security. The position was created in 2018 to increase the authority of CFIUS when it enacted the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, the post said.

In preparation for a public hearing on China's compliance with its World Trade Organization commitments, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments at regulations,gov, docket number is USTR-2019-0010. Comments and requests to testify are due by midnight EDT Sept. 18, The hearing will be held Oct. 2 by the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee at 1724 F Street NW, Washington, D.C., beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The White House said it is continuing the national emergency related to U.S. export control regulations, according to an Aug. 14 press release. The emergency is being continued because there is still an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy” of the U.S., the White House said. The emergency is being extended for one year. It was first declared Aug. 17, 2001.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments to inform its annual congressional report on Russia’s implementation of obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization, the USTR said in a notice the Aug. 14 Federal Register. The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee, chaired by the USTR, will hold a public hearing on Oct. 8. Written comments and requests to speak at the hearing are due Sept. 27.