The Federal Maritime Commission recently published an instructional video to help industry file shipping complaints. The video explains which processes are “most beneficial to achieving a complainant’s desired outcome,” including how members of the public can report information that may trigger an investigation or initiate formal civil litigation that can provide wronged parties with damages and restitution, the FMC said.

The Federal Maritime Commission finished its first round of meetings with carriers under its new export services audit effort (see 2203210026), the agency said April 22. The meetings -- part of an expansion of the FMC’s Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Audit Program to examine how shipping lines can best serve U.S. exporters -- have resulted in “invaluable” information so far, FMC Chairman Daniel Maffei said.

The State Department recently approved up to an additional $800 million in emergency military assistance to Ukraine, it said in a notice released April 25. The notice directs the drawdown of defense articles, services and military training from the Defense Department. The State Department said the aid could not have been met under the authority of the Arms Export Control Act or “any other provision of law.”

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 April 22. 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 April 29.

The State Department approved a potential $41 million sale of military equipment to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said April 19. The sale includes “Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems” and related equipment. The principal contractors will be Viasat and Data Link Solutions.

The Commerce Department held a stakeholder roundtable April 19 for the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council with speakers from U.S. industry, academia and think tanks. Commerce officials heard from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Georgetown University, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and others. The U.S. and the EU are scheduled to hold another TTC meeting in May, which will include discussions on Russia-related export controls (see 2204130045).

Swiss renewable energy company Viston United Swiss will submit a filing to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. regarding its planned acquisition of California-based Petroteq Energy, an oil production and technology company, Petroteq said in an April 18 SEC filing. The two companies first submitted a declaration to CFIUS in February, but after the committee said it was “unable” to clear the transaction, the companies “pre-filed” a notice with CFIUS April 6, Petroteq said. The companies hope to submit a formal notice “on an expedited basis” in the hopes of beginning CFIUS' 45-day notice review period "as soon as practicable.”

Mimecast, a U.S. information technology security company, received approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to be acquired by U.K.-based Magnesium Bidco, Mimecast said in an April 1 filing. The company was told March 31 that CFIUS had “​​no unresolved national security concerns” with the transaction. The companies had submitted a notification to CFIUS in February (see 2202180020).

Alan Estevez started this week as undersecretary of the Bureau of Industry and Security (see 2204010006), the agency said in an April 19 emailed news release. Estevez “brings an exceptional record of federal leadership and experience navigating some of the most complex national security challenges of the past three decades,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. She said Estevez will bring “invaluable assets” as the agency continues to penalize Russia and focuses on “winning the long-term strategic competition with China” and “ensuring the advancement of U.S. technological leadership.”

The U.S. has committed about $2.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia, the Defense Department said in an April 14 fact sheet, including a range of weapons, defense services and medical supplies. The agency also said the U.S. will continue to expedite authorizations for more defense items to Ukraine and has already authorized third-party transfers of defensive equipment from more than 14 countries. The fact sheet outlines the number of weapons, missile defense systems, ammunition and other defense items and services recently sent to Ukraine.