The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs began a review Oct. 28 of a State Department rule that would amend International Traffic in Arms Regulations requirements for certain countries. The proposed rule would modify the ITAR for Tunisia, Eritrea, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, as well as “other changes.” The agency has mentioned the rule in past regulatory agendas (see 2007200005 and 1911250035).
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls released on Oct. 29 its notifications to Congress of recently proposed export licenses. The 46 notifications, from April through June, feature arms sales to numerous countries including the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Australia, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines, Italy and Taiwan.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service will host a virtual trade event in January aimed at expanding market access for U.S. candy and snack exporters to the Persian Gulf region, an Oct. 28 news release said. USDA said it will arrange business meetings between U.S. exporters and local buyers during the Jan. 12-14, 2021, event, and said FAS staff in the region will offer “insights” into the trade conditions in Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The application deadline is Nov. 12.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Taiwan worth about $2.37 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 26. The sale includes 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and related equipment including missiles, containers, transporter units, radar trucks and spare parts. The principal contractor will be Boeing. The notification of the proposed sale came the same day China announced sanctions on three U.S. defense companies for their involvement in other military sales to Taiwan (see 2010260017).
The National Association of Export Management Companies will end its operations after its board of directors voted to dissolve the association, the group said in an Oct. 27 email. The New York-based international trade association did not provide further details. “We thank all of you who have continued to support our efforts throughout our 55+ years of existence,” the email said. “Unfortunately the time has come to say goodbye.”
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on Oct. 26 released the presentation slides from the Defense Trade Advisory Group's Oct. 22 meeting. The slides contain recommendations and feedback from the DTAG working groups on DDTC operations. During the meeting, a State Department official said the agency is “very close” to publishing its first rule to reorganize the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (see 2010220049).
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a proposed rule to revise the threshold requiring banks to “collect and retain information on certain funds transfers and transmittals of funds,” the agency said Oct. 27. The change would reduce the threshold from $3,000 to $250 for funds transfers that begin or end outside the U.S., FinCEN said, and would also reduce the threshold that requires banks to transmit to other financial institutions in the payment chain “information on funds transfers and transmittals of funds” that begin or end outside the U.S. The rule also proposes to clarify the definition of “money … to ensure that the rules apply to domestic and cross-border transactions involving convertible virtual currency” as well as “digital assets that have legal tender status.” Comments on the rule, which was proposed by FinCEN and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, are due Nov. 27.
President Donald Trump notified Congress that he intends to formally remove Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List, the White House said Oct. 23. Sanctions and other trade restrictions on Sudan now include bans on arms exports, export controls over dual-use items, various financial and economic assistance prohibitions, and prohibitions on defense contracts, according to the State Department. The White House move came after Sudan promised to make reparations to families of victims of terror.
The State Department approved about $1.8 billion in military sales to Taiwan, drawing criticism from China, which threatened retaliation if the sales are not revoked. The sales, announced Oct. 21, include more than $1 billion worth of Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response missiles, an estimated $367 million for MS-110 Recce Pods and about $436 million for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems M142 Launchers. The contractors are Boeing, Collins Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control, respectively.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative are accepting applications for new members to serve four-year terms on seven agricultural trade advisory committees, the agencies said Oct. 15. The available committees include the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee -- which advises USDA and USTR on existing trade agreements and negotiating new ones -- and Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees on the following commodity sectors: animals and animal products; fruits and vegetables; grains, feed and planting seeds; processed foods; sweeteners and sweetener products; and tobacco, cotton and peanuts. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have “significant expertise” in both agricultural and international trade matters. Applications are due by 5 p.m. EST on Nov. 13.