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 13. 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 May 20.
The Bureau of Industry and Security on May 13 opened registration for its annual export controls conference, with this year's theme of "Building a Network of Global Cooperation." The agency released information on the agenda, including what topics will be discussed. The conference will be held June 29 - July 1 in-person at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. Some portions of it also will be available virtually.
USDA is accepting applications from exporters for its upcoming trade mission in the Philippines, the agency said May 12. The July 18-21 trade mission will give U.S. agricultural exporters an opportunity to “explore a thriving market that is expected to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic with one of the strongest growth forecasts in Asia,” USDA said. The agency said strong export opportunities exist in the Philippines for beef, pork, poultry, cheese, fresh vegetables, alcohol, seafood products, tree nuts and more. Applications are due May 18.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week extended by a month a public comment period to allow more time for feedback on the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council's Secure Supply Chains Working Group. BIS said it wants to allow commenters to “take into account any developments or announcements that may occur” during the TTC’s upcoming meeting in France May 15-16. Comments, originally due May 23 (see 2204050012), are now due by June 23.
President Joe Biden on May 9 signed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, which provides the administration “enhanced authority” to lend or lease defense items to Ukraine. The bill also authorizes leases of defense articles to other Eastern European countries affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to “help bolster those countries' defense capabilities.”
The University of Pennsylvania posted presentation materials from the first and second day of its annual University Export Control Conference last week. The materials include agency update presentations from the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the Office of Science and Technology Policy and other government agencies. Among the presentation materials are ones on foreign influence investigations, implementing a research security program and how to construct an export control program in a university setting.
U.S. organic food exporters should benefit from increasingly “good prospects” in the Hong Kong market amid a rise in the popularity of organic foods, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service said in a May 5 report. The agency said the “slowdown” in U.S organic exports to Hong Kong last year was “far less” than the 20% decline in conventional U.S. exports. “While most U.S. agricultural exports faced shipping logistics challenges last year,” USDA said, “the smaller contraction in U.S. exports of organic products reflects the growing popularity of these products in Hong Kong.”
The recently signed trade deal involving Australia and India (see 2204040028) could “pose” challenges for U.S trade, including the prospects of American food and agricultural products in the Indian market, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service said in a May 4 report. The agency said the deal may negatively affect Indian imports of U.S. wines, spirits, cotton, pulses, beans, forest products and tree nuts, products that will benefit from tariff reductions with Australia. Exporters also should monitor India’s efforts to sign trade deals with a host of other countries, USDA said, including with the U.K., Canada and Israel.
The International Trade Commission will produce a report by March 15 next year on the economic impact of Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs on U.S. prices, trade and production in the industries most affected by the tariffs. The commission announced that it will hold a public hearing on July 21, and that requests to appear at that hearing should be filed by July 6. It also will accept written submissions on the topic through Aug. 24.
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 6. 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 May 13.