The White House has posted remarks that the President will deliver via videotape to the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Annual Export Controls Update Conference that began on August 31, 2010. In addition, the White House has posted a press release regarding the Administration’s export control reform efforts. Both the remarks and press release provide additional details of the Administration’s first steps toward implementation of export control reform.

The governments of Sri Lanka and the United States are announcing a Private-Public Partnership Conference on the margins of the U. S. -- Sri Lanka Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks that will occur on October 14. The conference will be held on October 12 -- 14, 2010 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Attendees will be able to meet senior Sri Lankan trade officials and prospective investment partners on a one-to-one basis.

Export.gov is announcing that registration is open for an Export University Seminar series that will be held in West Virginia and is sponsored by Fedex and supported by the West Virginia District Export Council, local Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Authorities. The schedule of events (two have already occurred) is as follows:

Export.gov has posted information on upcoming September 2010 Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) webinars that will be held in English and Spanish. Participants in these webinars will learn about the Foreign Trade Regulations, which are mandatory when exporting products overseas. Being informed will help companies avoid possible penalties and seizure of shipments. Penalty violations range from $1,100 to $10,000 per violation.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has issued a notice announcing that special documentation may be required for export licenses pertaining to low observable/counter low observable (LO/CLO) technology.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls announces that the April 1, 2010 official International Traffic in Arms Regulations have been posted, which include amendments to 22 CFR Part 120, Commodity Jurisdiction.

The State Department has issued a final rule, effective August 27, 2010, which amends the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to remove the requirements for prior approval or prior notification for license applications or proposed agreements to foreign persons relating to significant military equipment.

The State Department has issued a final rule, effective August 27, 2010, which amends the International Traffic in Arms Regulations so that the export license exemption provided by 22 CFR 125.4 allows the hand carrying or “taking” of technical data regardless of its media or format, by a U.S. person who is an employee of a U.S. corporation or a U.S. Government agency to a U.S. person employed by that U.S. corporation or to a U.S. Government agency outside the U.S.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has issued a reminder that paper versions of technical assistance agreements (TAAs), manufacturing license agreements (MLAs), and warehouse and distribution agreements (WDAs), to include major amendments, will no longer be accepted beginning September 1, 2010.

The State Department is proposing to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to exempt from approval requirements intra-company transfers of defense articles to employees who are dual nationals or third-country nationals.