U.S.-based TuSimple Holdings, which provides self-driving truck and autonomous freight shipping technology, recently entered into a national security agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. involving a 4-year-old transaction (see 2111230075). The NSA includes restrictions on the company’s data sharing and requires the company to “periodically meet with and report” to CFIUS monitoring agencies, according to a recent SEC filing.

The State Department approved three potential military sales -- to Egypt, the Netherlands and Australia -- worth more than $3 billion combined, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said May 26.

Requests for action from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative should go beyond asking USTR to go and fix a problem via the World Trade Organization, USMCA or other dispute settlement system, said Daniel Stirk, senior associate general counsel at the agency. Speaking on a panel at the Georgetown International Trade Update, Stirk said that instead, trust that the office is already aware of the issue and is taking steps to solve it, and if you still decide to approach USTR, come with thoughtful solutions.

The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports again postponed by a week a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers (see 2110280031), the two ports announced May 27. The ports had planned to begin imposing the fee in November 2021 but have postponed it each week since. The latest extension delays the effective date until June 3.

The State Department is seeking comments on an information collection related to defense trade registration, the agency said in a notice. The information collection applies to companies registered with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and involved “in the business of manufacturing or exporting or temporarily importing defense articles or furnishing defense services.” Comments are due June 27.

CBP will combine its trade symposium and Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism events for a July 18-20 conference in Anaheim, California, the agency said on its website. Registration for the Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit will open June 1, it said.

The Bureau of Industry and Security this week extended the comment period for an information collection relating to offset agreements worth more than $5 million for sales of weapons systems or defense articles to foreign countries or companies (see 2201130008). Comments on the information collection, originally due March 15, have been extended for an additional 30 days to June 27.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls renewed the Defense Trade Advisory Group charter for two years, according to a copy of the renewal released this week.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls recently posted two new frequently-asked-questions under its licensing and registration guidance pages.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls posted the slide presentations from the April 28 Defense Trade Advisory Group plenary meeting (see 2204290032). The slides include presentations from several DTAG working groups, including a recommendation for a new International Traffic in Arms Regulation exemption, recommendations for clarifications and corrections to certain ITAR definitions, and a report on ITAR-related challenges for controlled unclassified information.