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Connecticut FTZ Applies for Expansion, Streamlined Subzone Procedures
October 20, 2014 by Brian Feito|Commerce Dept.

The Economic and Industrial Development Commission of Windsor Locks submitted an application to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to reorganize FTZ 71 under the Alternative Site Framework, and expand the zone to cover all of Northern and Central Connecticut. Under the reorganization, the zone's service area would cover Hartford, Middlesex, Windham, Tolland and Litchfield Counties. The proposed reorganization under the Alternative Site Framework would streamline processes for the designation of new FTZ subzones and usage driven sites within that service area by allowing companies to request zone status through the relatively simple "minor boundary modification" process. Comments on the application are due by Dec. 22.

BIS Slaps Export Ban on Texas Co. Over Computer Shipments to Iran
October 20, 2014 |Commerce Dept.

The Bureau of Industry and Security eliminated exporting privileges for Texas-based Borna Faizy and Touraj Ghavidel for 10 years, after concluding the two conspired to export computers to Iran from the United States via the United Arab Emirates. The computers, controlled for anti-terrorism purposes, are located on the Commerce Control List and subject to the Iranian Transaction Regulations, BIS said. The two traders used their company Signal Micro Systems to send hundreds the computers to Iran from 2009 to 2011, with a value of more than a million dollars. That company is also barred from participating in the export of goods for 10 years. Faizy was president of Signal Micro Systems during the time the violations were committed, and Ghavidel served as chief operating officer. The two allegedly did not obtain authorization from BIS or Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Northwest Iowa FTZ Applies for Expansion into Neighboring County
October 16, 2014 |Commerce Dept.

The Northwest Iowa Development Corporation has applied to expand the area served by Foreign-Trade Zone 288, said a notice from the FTZ Board. The zone currently has a service area that includes Cherokee, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and Sioux Counties, Iowa. Under the proposed expansion, it would also cover Woodbury County. If approved, the zone’s grantee would be able to serve sites throughout the expanded service area, said the FTZ Board. Comments are due by Dec. 16.

FTZ Board Approves Reorganization, Expansion for Zone in Virginia
October 16, 2014 |Commerce Dept.

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board announced its approval of the expansion and reorganization under the Alternative Site Framework of FTZ 207 in and around Richmond, Virginia. The zone will now cover all of Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Caroline, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Greensville, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Richmond and Westmoreland Counties, as well as the Independent Cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond. Under the Alternative Site Framework, companies will now be able to request subzone status through the relatively simple "minor boundary modification" process.

BIS Levels New Controls on Integrated Circuits, Helicopter Radar, Infrared Devices
October 10, 2014 by Brian Dabbs|Commerce Dept.

The Commerce Department is revising the Export Administration Regulations to make changes to controls on read-out integrated circuits, helicopter landing systems' radar and some infrared conversion devices, as well as related software and technology for those products. The interim final rule is effective Oct. 14, but Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security is tapping the public for comments, which are due on Dec. 15.

BIS Cracks Down on Illegal Software, Energy Equipment Sales Abroad
October 9, 2014 by Brian Dabbs|Commerce Dept.

The Commerce Department settled a civil case with an Intel Corporation subsidiary, Wind River Systems, on Oct. 7 over encryption software sales to foreign entities, some of which are sanctioned by the BIS Entity List. The company is set to pay $750,000 to the Bureau of Industry and Security in the next 30 days, and if the payment is not made on time, BIS threatened to build interest on the figure and prevent the company from exporting goods. Wind River Systems, based in of Alameda, Calif., exported software valued at $2.9 million to end-users in China, Hong Kong, Russia, Israel, South Africa, and South Korea on 55 occasions between 2008 and 2011, BIS said. Meanwhile, BIS also settled on Oct. 7 an enforcement case into EAR violations committed by a Belgian firm. Robbins and Myers Belgium allegedly sold heat-treated special alloy tubes lined with helical-shaped rubber inserts to Syria in 2006. The product is used in oil and gas drilling and exploration, BIS said. Robbins and Myers Belgium will have to pay $600,000 within 30 days or BIS will build interest on the sum and bar the company’s exports.