The Census Bureau has issued AES Broadcast #2012013 as part of a new series of monthly educational broadcast messages on the Automated Export System. This month Census is highlighting AES error codes 503 (License Code Missing) and 624 (Schedule B/ HTS Number Outdated -- Cannot Be Used). The broadcast covers the reasons for these error messages and how to resolve them. Email documents@brokerpower.com for a copy of the February 14, 2012 broadcast.

The Department of Defense has submitted an interim final rule on FAR Case 2012-004 on the United States - Korea Free Trade Agreement to the Office of Management and Budget for review.

Export.gov has announced the following series of trade missions that are scheduled for February through May 2012:

On February 10, 2012, Francisco Sanchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, began a business development trade mission in Afghanistan. Sanchez is leading a delegation of representatives from 12 U.S. businesses from the construction, mining, agribusiness and information technology sectors seeking to play a role in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule that, effective February 8, 2012, amends the Cote d’Ivoire Sanctions Regulations, the Darfur Sanctions Regulations, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Regulations to add a definition of the term "financial, material, or technological support," as providing such support for a person whose property and interests in property are blocked under those regulations and which constitutes one of the criteria for designation as a person whose property and interests in property are blocked.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted an updated schedule for its export control and compliance training outreach efforts. BIS states its training seminars provide the opportunity to learn firsthand from experienced U.S. Government officials about export control policies, regulations and procedures.

The State Department’s Defense Trade Advisory Group is seeking additional membership applications from subject matter experts from the U.S. defense industry, relevant trade and labor associations, academic, and foundation personnel. Applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2012.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued an order denying Kok Tong Lim, a/k/a Thomas Lim, of Singapore, export privileges under the Export Administration Regulations for a period of ten years from the date of his conviction (or until October 2019) for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by conspiring to illegally export wound carbon fiber to the China Academy of Space Technology. In addition, BIS has decided to revoke all licenses issued pursuant to the Act or Regulations in which Lim had an interest at the time of his conviction.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control states that it received a total of 929 applications requesting authorization to export agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Iran and Sudan under the one-year specific licensing regime of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSRA) in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2011 (April - September 2011). See notice for further statistics.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted its sixteenth study of “Offsets in Defense Trade.” This report to Congress addresses the impact of offsets in defense trade prepared by BIS pursuant to Section 723 of the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950, as amended.