USDA this week opened registration for its pavilion at Fruit Logistica, the world’s “largest trade show” for the fruit and vegetable industry. The trade show, to be held Feb. 7-9 in Berlin, includes representatives from the “entire spectrum of the fresh fruit and vegetable sector -- from larger, well-known companies to small and medium-sized businesses and organizations all over the world,” USDA said in a July 12 email. Participants will “have access to more than 63,000 serious buyers and decision-makers from 140 countries visiting this three-day event.” Industry members should register by July 31.
The State Department approved two potential military sales, to Sweden and France, worth more than $800 million combined, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said July 7. The $605 million sale to Sweden includes “Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense. The $203 million military sale to France includes “AGM-114R2 Hellfire Missiles” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin.
The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking public comments on a new web portal, mandated by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, that would collect "comments, complaints, concerns, reports of noncompliance, requests for investigation, and requests for alternative dispute resolution,” it said in a notice this week. The FMC is asking for feedback on "ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected," the "use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden," and more, the notice said. Comments are due by Sept. 11.
Micron Techology is preparing for revenue losses caused by China’s recent sales restrictions on its products, saying in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing that Beijing “may prevent us from competing effectively with Chinese companies.” The U.S. semiconductor company said the restrictions are leading to “significant headwind” that “is impacting our outlook and slowing our recovery.”
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she is “concerned” about China’s new export controls on critical minerals used to produce semiconductors (see 2307060053), saying the U.S. is still assessing the impact but that they “remind us of the importance of building resilient and diversified supply chains.” Speaking during a July 7 roundtable with American businesses in China, Yellen said the administration is working to make sure U.S. companies are competing with China on a “level playing field.”
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. recently approved a merger between U.S.-based real estate business INDUS Realty Trust and global investment firms Centerbridge Partners and GIC Real Estate, INDUS said in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The companies said they received CFIUS approval June 22, and “all required regulatory approvals to complete the Merger have now been received.”
The Bureau of Industry and Security is working with the Department of Health and Human Services on a “comprehensive assessment” of the U.S. influenza vaccine industrial base, the agency announced this week. The agencies plan to launch a survey to gather data on the industry’s “supply chain network” to better understand and respond to “supply chain deficiencies and disruptions related to production capabilities, transportation and logistics, research and development, foreign sourcing and dependencies, cyber security incidents, critical materials, and other challenges.” The survey also will help the agencies produce recommendations to “help improve the resiliency of the influenza vaccine supply chain in the face of future public health emergencies.”
The State Department on June 30 approved a potential $105 million military sale to Romania of “equipment and services to modernize thirty-two (32) F-16 Mid-Life Update Block 10/15 aircraft,” which will be procured through a third-party transfer from Norway, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 30. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin.
The State Department approved two potential military sales to Taiwan and one to the Czech Republic, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 29. A $332.2 million sale to Taiwan includes various types of 30 mm ammunition and related equipment. Alliant Techsystems Operations and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems are the principal contractors. A $108 million sale to Taiwan includes a “Blanket Order Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (CLSSA) Foreign Military Sales Order II (FMSO II)” and related equipment. The Defense Logistics Agency has not yet chosen principal contractors. A $5.62 billion sale to the Czech Republic includes F-35 aircraft, munitions and related equipment, and the principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Raytheon Missiles and Defense, and Boeing.
The State Department approved two potential military sales, to Poland and Norway, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 28. The $15 billion sale to Poland includes an “Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS)” and related equipment, and the principal contractors will be Raytheon, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, and “another original equipment manufacturer to be selected to develop and produce generator sets.” The $293 million sale to Norway includes “Small Diameter Bomb II” and related equipment, with Raytheon Missile Systems as the principal contractor.