The Bureau of Industry and Security this week updated its website with a new page that lists all past BIS-related rules and notices published in the Federal Register; new tools to search the Commerce Control List; and more, a Commerce Department official said at the agency’s annual update conference. The official said the updates are the “first phase of our ongoing enhancement and migration efforts to transition information from the” old BIS website to the new one (see 2312040016).
The Federal Maritime Commission has asked a group of major ocean shipping carriers to provide it with more information about an amendment to an agreement that would allow them to participate in the New York Shipping Exchange index governing board, “which shall discuss and agree on all aspects of the development, implementation, modification and auditing of container freight indices, as produced by NYSHEX,” the FMC said in a notice released March 14. The commission said its notice prevented “the proposed amendment to this agreement from becoming effective as originally scheduled” on March 12. The parties to the agreement are carriers CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO Shipping Lines, COSCO Shipping Co., HMM, Maersk, and Ocean Network Express.
When the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network revises a rule implementing the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), it will aim to ensure the regulations are “appropriately tailored to advance the public interest,” a Treasury Department official told lawmakers last week.
The State Department released a notice March 13 that says all U.S. agency “efforts” to “control … the transfer of goods, services, data, technology, and other items across the borders of the United States” are a “foreign affairs function” exempt from Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking and hearing requirements under 5 U.S.C. 553 and 554. When asked to clarify, a State Department spokesperson said: "The determination speaks for itself."
The State Department approved potential military sales to Japan and Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said March 10. The sale to Japan includes $200 million worth of “Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles Capability Support” and related equipment, which will be provided by the U.S. government. Australia will get $91.2 million worth of “Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternate Warhead Rounds” and related equipment, and the principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin divisions in Texas and Australia.
The State Department is seeking public comments on an information collection involving license applications to permanently export, temporarily export or temporarily import classified defense articles. Comments are due by April 9.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking comments on an information collection related to declarations to the Chemical Weapons Convention. 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 May 6.
The State Department this week updated the list of countries eligible to trade in rough diamonds under the Clean Diamond Trade Act. The list, which was last revised in April 2022 (see 2204050013), now includes Uzbekistan. The update takes effect March 6.
The State Department approved three possible military sales to Israel, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said last week.
The State Department is using emergency authorities to expedite $4 billion in military “assistance” to Israel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. He added that the Trump administration has approved nearly $12 billion in foreign military sales to Israel, and it “will continue to use all available tools to fulfill America’s long-standing commitment to Israel’s security, including means to counter security threats.” At least one Republican lawmaker had accused the Biden administration of delaying arms sales to Israel (see 2411040038 and 2410040042).