President Bush has issued a proclamation lifting the application of the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) with respect to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and notified Congress of his intent to rescind North Korea's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. These actions were taken following North Korea's submission of a declaration of its nuclear programs, which will now be subject to verification.
Treasury Secretary Paulson will attend a day of meetings hosted by theMexican Finance Minister on Tuesday to discuss regional finance and economic issues. (Treasury Dept. press release, HP-1045, dated 06/19/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1045.htm)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a press release announcing that it has added an antiboycott compliance training module to its BIS Online Training Room, its online training program for exporters.
On June 12, 2008, the House Oversight and Government Committee reported an amended H.R. 5912, a bill to amend 39 USC to make cigarettes and certain other tobacco products nonmailable, and for other purposes. (Congressional Record, dated 06/12/08, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080612)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective June 16, 2008, amending the Export Administration Regulations and the Commerce Control List to reflect changes to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex that were agreed to by MTCR member countries at the November 2007 Plenary in Greece.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is suspending indefinitely the effective date for the proposed new Privacy Act system of records entitled "National Animal Identification System (NAIS), USDA/APHIS-16," that was published in the April 30, 2008 Federal Register. (Suspension notice, FR Pub 06/10/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-13065.pdf; Proposal, FR Pub 04/30/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-9419.pdf)
The Bureau of Industry and Security's Under Secretary of Commerce Mancuso has announced the second phase of an online training program for exporters. The additional training modules complete BIS' series on the basics of export control available at its online training room.
BIS is planning its annual Update Conference on Export Controls and Policy. The dates of this year's Update Conference are not yet confirmed, but it is expected take place in the September-October timeframe. Those interested in attending this year's Update Conference should fill out the on-line "Update Interest Form," anytime between June 2 and July 6, 2008. (BIS update on conference available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/seminarsandtraining/2008_update.htm and Update Interest Form available at http://www.register123.com/event/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x583833d0f3)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its report to Congress on the Automated Commercial Environment for the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 (January 1, 2008 - March 31, 2008). The report provides an update on ACE accomplishments, challenges, fiscal status, and upcoming program milestones.
On June 4, 2008 Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rood was scheduled to lead a U.S. delegation in the U.S.-China Security Dialogue in Beijing, China. The Security Dialogue focuses on expanding mutual understanding and cooperation on a variety of security and nonproliferation issues. (Press release 2008/434, dated 05/30/08, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/may/105461.htm)