The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to declaration forms submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The forms provide the IAEA with information on commercial nuclear and nuclear-related items, materials and activities, including imports and exports. Comments are due Oct. 10.
As the Biden administration this week marked the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Chips Act, which provides incentives and funding opportunities for the chips sector, the semiconductor industry urged the White House and lawmakers to keep foreign markets open and “advance policies that enhance this historic accomplishment.”
The Transportation Security Administration is inviting shippers to join its Certified Cargo Screening Program ahead of a change in October that will eliminate certain air freight screening exemptions for cargo deemed ”impracticable to screen.” Shippers enrolled in the program will be allowed to “directly transfer cargo to an aircraft operator without requiring additional screening,” TSA said in a notice this week.
The Commerce Department is seeking public comments on an information collection involving its annual survey of foreign direct investment in the U.S. The survey provides “reliable, useful, and timely measures” of FDI to the government to allow it to assess the impact of the investment on the U.S. economy. In a change made last year, the survey’s BE15A form will no longer include the “expensed petroleum and mining expenditures item.” Commerce said the item “is not a good fit conceptually as a component of property, plant, and equipment (capital) expenditures.” Comments are due Oct. 10.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission is seeking submissions from contract researchers to prepare a “concise, one-time unclassified report” on China’s advanced remote sensing technologies and applications. The report should assess China's objectives and approach to advanced remote sensing technologies; the state of China's research and development around the technology and competitiveness of China's industry in this area; Chinese investments in U.S. advanced remote sensor companies; and China's use of these technologies for military purposes. The commission is accepting proposals through 5 p.m. EDT Sept. 8
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls recently posted a name change notice for Nitec (UK) Ltd. and waived the requirement for amendments to change approved license authorizations because of the “volume” of authorizations requiring amendments to reflect the change, DDTC said. Nitec was changed to CBE Plus Ltd. New license applications received after Sept. 3 that identify the old name “will be considered for return without action for correction.”
U.S. carrier Network Shipping Ltd. (NWS) violated U.S. shipping regulations when it failed to provide chassis for certain shipments and instead unfairly provided those chassis to its parent company, a produce distributor, multiple produce importers and exporters said in an August complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission. The companies said they suffered $2 million in damages and costs "in connection with dumping, inspection, transportation, and lost sales of the perished cargo" due to NWS' actions, the report said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking comments on an information collection involving the U.S. Origin Health Certificate for exports of animals and animal products. The agency said export of "agricultural commodities, including animals and animal products, is a major business in the United States and contributes to a favorable balance of trade," and APHIS "maintains information regarding the import health requirements of other countries for animals and animal products exported from the" U.S. Comments are due Oct. 3.
The State Department approved a potential $395 million sale to Finland, which includes an “M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System” upgrade and related equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Aug. 1. The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin, Chelton, Leonardo DRS and Loc Performance Products.
The Bureau of Industry and Security extended by 30 days the public comment period for an information collection involving its five-year records retention requirement for export transactions and boycott requests. Companies must keep records related to exports and boycott actions for that time frame to “preserve potential evidence for investigations.” Comments had been due June 5 (see 2304040013).