The State Department added Swaziland to its list of Participating Countries and Entities eligible for trade in rough diamonds under the Clean Diamond Trade Act of 2003, revising the previously published list from 2008. The list of eligible countries and their respective Importing and Exporting Authorities is here.
The U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council will meet June 5-6, the State Department said. The meeting, closed to the public, will “focus on an examination of corporate security policies and procedures and will involve extensive discussion of trade secrets and proprietary commercial information that is privileged and confidential, and will discuss law enforcement investigative techniques and procedures,” it said.
The State Department, World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently issued the following travel warnings, travel alerts, country specific information sheets, and disease outbreak-related information: State Department Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. The State Department has issued the following travel warnings since BP's most recent update:
The State Department Directorate of Defense Trade Controls posted an updated list of U.K. Intermediate Consignees that reflects the impact of the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties the U.S. has signed with the United Kingdom and Australia, (see ITT Online Archives [Ref.12041612]).
The State Department is seeking comment on the Environmental Assessment related to the Vantage US LP application for a Presidential Permit to construct and operate facilities at the border for a proposed pipeline carrying ethane from North Dakota to Canada.
The State Department said it's amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to add an exemption for the temporary export of chemical agent protective gear for personal use. The exemption for body armor is amended to also cover helmets when they are included with the body armor. It also clarified an exemption for firearms and ammunition by removing some extraneous language that does not change the meaning of the exemption, and by standardizing the language among the exemptions in this section of the regulations, it said in a Federal Register notice. The change is effective June 1.
The State Department, World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently issued the following travel warnings, travel alerts, country specific information sheets, and disease outbreak-related information: State Department Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. The State Department has issued the following travel warnings since BP's most recent update:
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls notification of name/address changes:
The State Department posted an opportunity for public comment on the environmental chapter of the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (here) signed in 2007. Comments can be submitted to OES-ENV-MAIL@state.gov. Submissions will be considered by relevant U.S. Government officials. State said responses will be provided to comments within a reasonable time frame, and submissions and responses will be posted on this web page.
The U.S. will decide "on a case-by-case basis" whether to extend information technology sanctions to other countries, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a briefing with reporters April 24. The U.S. recently imposed such sanctions on Iran and Syria, saying technology to limit access to the Internet was being used to limit their citizens' rights (See ITT Online Archives [Ref.12042432]).